by Mindy Aguon

Guam - 19-year-old Joseph Quintanilla will not have to spend the next 15 years behind bars for having sex with his high school girlfriend. While his case was set to go to trial today the defense accepted a proposed deferred plea. Quintanilla pled guilty to third degree criminal sexual conduct and agreed to perform 100 hours of community service, pay a fine and court costs and graduate within three years.

The 19-year-old has spent the last-year-and-a-half in and out of court facing significant jail time for having sex when he was 16 years old with his 13-year-old girlfriend. His attorney, Mikaela Henderson, said, "We really think this is a fair resolution to that case and at the end of three years if he follows all of the conditions then the case will be dismissed. He doesn't have to go to jail for 15 years. He doesn't have to register as a Level I Sex Offender."

Henderson hopes island lawmakers will review laws that are in effect in the United States that ensures that teens who have consensual sex are not charged and punished the same as adult sexual predators.

Quintanilla and his mother are relieved with today's deferred plea and are hoping to educate more teens around the island.