Louisville, KY-- A 17-year-old Kentucky girl who was upset by the plea deal reached by a pair of teenagers who sexually assaulted her is now facing a contempt charge for tweeting their names in violation of a court order.
Savannah Dietrich of Louisville told The Courier-Journal she is frustrated by what she feels is a lenient deal for her attackers. After posting the names on Twitter, Dietrich wrote, "I'm not protecting anyone that made my life a living Hell."
Frustrated by what she felt was a lenient plea bargain for two teens who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting her and circulating pictures of the incident, a Louisville 17-year-old lashed out on Twitter.
"There you go, lock me up," Savannah Dietrich tweeted, as she named the boys who she said sexually assaulted her. "I'm not protecting anyone that made my life a living Hell."
Now, Dietrich is facing a potential jail sentence, as the attorneys for the boys have asked a Jefferson District Court judge to hold her in contempt because they say that in naming her attackers, she violated the confidentiality of a juvenile hearing and the court's order not to speak of it.
A contempt charge carries a potential sentence of up to 180 days in jail and a $500 fine.
"So many of my rights have been taken away by these boys," said Dietrich, who waived confidentiality in her case to speak to The Courier-Journal. Her parents also gave their written permission for her to speak with the newspaper.
"I'm at the point, that if I have to go to jail for my rights, I will do it," she said. "If they really feel it's necessary to throw me in jail for talking about what happened to me ... as opposed to throwing these boys in jail for what they did to me, then I don't understand justice."
The boys have not yet been sentenced.
The Courier-Journal is not naming them; the newspaper usually does not identify minors in juvenile court, with the exception of some cases, like murder.
Contempt hearing
Juvenile court is closed in Kentucky to protect the confidentiality of defendants, but Dietrich has consented to the media's presence at her contempt hearing, which is allowed under state law.
A hearing is scheduled for July 30 in juvenile court to decide if the media will be allowed into the contempt hearing.
The Courier-Journal and Dietrich's attorneys have filed motions to open the proceedings, arguing she has a First Amendment right to speak about what happened in her case and a right to a public hearing on the contempt charge.
Courier-Journal