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Kaitlyn Hunt, 19, released from Indian River County Jail

Posted at 10:35 PM, Dec 19, 2013
and last updated 2014-12-15 14:44:07-05

Kaitlyn Hunt, the Sebastian-area teenager who was arrested after police said she had a sexual relationship with an underage girl, was released from the Indian River County Jail early Friday morning.

Hunt, 19, was released just after 1 a.m. and was quickly driven away in an SUV with her family.

"I think she's grown up a lot.  She's had to face a lot of adult issues being very young.  She's learned and she wants to just close a chapter and move on, set some goals and look to the future," said Hunt's mother Kelley Smith.

She had been in jail since Aug. 19.

"I feel relieved a little bit that everything is over and I'm not still going through this crazy thing," Hunt said in and exclusive interview with WPTV NewsChannel 5 in October.

Eight months earlier, when Hunt was 18, she was charged with having sex with a 14-year-old student at Sebastian River High School.

PHOTOS: Kaitlyn Hunt released from jail ( http://bit.ly/1gKK5Qc)

Her legal troubles made national headlines and exploded on social media.

Prosecutors said Hunt violated the court's no-contact order with the victim by sending thousands of text messages and nude photographs to her.

They also alleged that Hunt had physical contact with her.

Hunt claimed she did not know she was breaking the law.

"I didn't know why I was in trouble," she said in October. "I didn't really know."

Hunt accepted a plea deal in October.

She entered pleas of no contest for charges of battery, interference of child custody and contributing to the dependency of a child.

As part of the plea deal, Hunt did not have to register as a sex offender.

Hunt faces two years of house arrest and three years of probation.

She said she planned to remain in the area and return to school to pursue a career in nursing.