SANDPOINT — A young former Bonner County woman implicated in a violent attack on another teenager last summer entered into an unusual agreement to resolve her felony battery case on Friday.

Caitlyn Grace Haskins, 18, was charged with aggravated battery for allegedly attacking a 17-year-old girl with a baseball bat at City Beach on July 2, 2019. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was awaiting trial in 1st District Court.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Haskins would plead guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor battery while simultaneously admitting to the elements of the felony battery charge — that her actions caused great bodily harm to the 17-year-old. In exchange for the plea, Haskins would be granted a withheld judgment on the misdemeanor charge and sentenced to time served of three days in jail and be placed on probation for two years.

The agreement further required Haskins to complete 200 hours of community service and 16 hours of anger management counseling. If Haskins successfully completed the terms of probation, the misdemeanor conviction and the felony battery charge would be dismissed. If probation goes poorly for Haskins, she would be convicted of the felony battery charge.

Bonner County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dan Rodriguez told Judge Barbara Buchanan that the state opted for a diversionary-style plea agreement due to Haskins’ age and lack of a prior violent criminal history.

Moreover, the agreement has hefty consequences for noncompliance — a felony conviction that carries a potential 15-year prison term — which takes into account the seriousness of the offense.

“It’s entirely up to her,” Rodriguez said of Haskins’ ability to keep her criminal record clear or mar it with a felony offense that could haunt her for life.

Haskins’ Coeur d’Alene attorney, Joseph Sullivan, called the resolution appropriate because it held his client responsible for her role in the incident without destroying her future prospects.

“She was trying to help a friend and it got way out of hand,” Sullivan said of his client’s actions.

Haskins was also required to write a letter of apology, which was read into the record. In it, Haskins admitted culpability and apologized.

“My behavior was extremely inappropriate,” said Haskins, who since relocated to Oregon.

The alleged victim in the case did not attend Friday’s hearing.

Buchanan ultimately agreed to adopt the terms of the plea agreement and noted that the “serious crime” attracted traditional media attention, in addition to serving as ample grist for the social media mill.

“You’ve got a felony conviction hanging over your head so it’s really up to you,” said Buchanan.

Buchanan ordered Haskins to pay nearly $200 in court costs, but suspended a $1,000 fine in the case to avoid hampering Haskins’ ability to pay restitution, which Rodriguez estimated could cost several thousand dollars.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.