by KYW's Paul Kurtz
A jury has returned a mixed verdict in the case of a Bucks County, Pa. woman accused of sexually molesting two teenage boys during a sleepover party last April in Lower Makefield Township.
The jury convicted 38-year-old Angela Honeycutt on two counts of corruption of minors. But on the somewhat more serious charge of statutory sexual assault, the jury returned a not-guilty verdict.
Defense attorney Neils Eriksen:
"We're both extremely pleased. It was exactly what we were hoping would happen, and it was what we argued (during) the entire case -- that she was inappropriate. The jury found her inappropriate for certain actions, but for the majority of the serious offenses (she was found) not guilty. A victory, as far as we're concerned."
Assistant Bucks County DA Mark Walz also claimed victory in the case, pointing out that the jury convicted Honeycutt of two still-very-serious crimes. She could face up to 10 years in prison on those convictions, or as little as three months for each of the two counts.
Honeycutt, a single mother, was a chaperone at a party held for a friend's son back in April. But the party got way out of hand, and testimony revealed that Honeycutt got drunk, stripped to the waist at one point, and invited two boys at the party to join her in the shower. The prosecution contended that she seduced the boys into having sex.
On Thursday afternoon, while the jury was deliberating, a tearful Honeycutt (above) acknowledged to reporters outside the courthouse in Doylestown that she had made mistakes but denied having sex with the boys. Afterward, she again admitted that she had acted inappropriately and apologized for that, but said she was relieved that the jury had acquitted her on the sex assault charge.
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