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Teen booked; deal in works

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com

Published: July 10, 2009

TAMPA - It took five months for Davis Islands teenager Jordan Valdez to be charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident but only a few minutes to be booked and then released from jail Thursday.

Valdez was 16 when she was accused of hitting Melissa Sjostrom, a homeless woman, and then driving home. Though it looked at first like she might only face a careless driving citation, the now-17-year-old faces an adult felony charge that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail.

Lawyers already are talking about a plea deal, and it's unknown whether Valdez would serve any jail time. Sjostrom's aunt, Lisa Mott, says the family is "a little livid" that a deal is in the works.

Attorneys for Valdez and her family, meanwhile, say the family is disappointed the case isn't being held in juvenile court. Eddie Suarez, the attorney for Valdez's dad, says the teenager knows she did wrong. Jordan, he said, is "embarrassed by the fact she panicked and left the scene."

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