The lawyer for one of two teenage girls accused of plotting to murder a classmate in Seminole County says he is trying to work out an agreement with prosecutors to avoid a trial.Isabelle Valdez and Lois Lippert, both now 15, are facing attempted murder charges for the plan that was uncovered in January at Lake Brantley High School. Police say the two had planned to stab a male classmate to death because, for some reason, they believed he resembled the shooter who killed 26 people in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The teens believed the death of their classmate could resurrect the shooter. Valdez was scheduled to be in Seminole County court on Wednesday for a hearing. She did not appear in person, but her lawyer told the judge he is trying to work out an agreement with prosecutors.”We’re just trying to work something out; there’s a lot of discovery we’re still going through,” attorney Edward Lopez said.Lopez told WESH 2 that at this point, the State Attorney’s Office has not agreed to any kind of plea deal because of the severity of the charges.”At this point, they’re not; we’re trying to see what we can do. We’re just trying to explore all of our options,” Lopez said.In May, Valdez sent a letter to the judge asking for sympathy and claiming that she suffers from mental health issues.Earlier this month, prosecutors filed new charges against her because investigators say they found child pornography on her cell phone. The judge set Valdez’s next hearing for August. Lippert is scheduled for a hearing in September.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
The lawyer for one of two teenage girls accused of plotting to murder a classmate in Seminole County says he is trying to work out an agreement with prosecutors to avoid a trial.
Isabelle Valdez and Lois Lippert, both now 15, are facing attempted murder charges for the plan that was uncovered in January at Lake Brantley High School.
Police say the two had planned to stab a male classmate to death because, for some reason, they believed he resembled the shooter who killed 26 people in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The teens believed the death of their classmate could resurrect the shooter.
Valdez was scheduled to be in Seminole County court on Wednesday for a hearing. She did not appear in person, but her lawyer told the judge he is trying to work out an agreement with prosecutors.
“We’re just trying to work something out; there’s a lot of discovery we’re still going through,” attorney Edward Lopez said.
Lopez told WESH 2 that at this point, the State Attorney’s Office has not agreed to any kind of plea deal because of the severity of the charges.
“At this point, they’re not; we’re trying to see what we can do. We’re just trying to explore all of our options,” Lopez said.
In May, Valdez sent a letter to the judge asking for sympathy and claiming that she suffers from mental health issues.
Earlier this month, prosecutors filed new charges against her because investigators say they found child pornography on her cell phone.
The judge set Valdez’s next hearing for August. Lippert is scheduled for a hearing in September.