B. Brian Wiita didn't want people to know about the 15-year-old babysitter who accused him of sexually attacking her a decade ago.
A quiet plea deal and a $250,000 secret settlement with the girl secured the Palm Beach County businessman's record -- until three years ago when his name appeared on the Internet as a sex offender. That was when he decided he would rather face a jury than be stuck with a label that would brand him for life.
And after two years of courtroom battles, Wiita was assured Thursday morning that he wouldn't be listed as a sex offender with a plea deal that could leave him with a clean criminal record.
Prosecutor Andrew Slater said the victim, now 25, wanted the State Attorney's Office to bring the case to an end.
"She's an adult with children, and she wants this out of her life," Slater told Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Hubert Lindsey.
Wiita, 41, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. If he successfully completes three months' probation, the entire criminal case will be erased from his record.
Wiita wasn't in court Thursday and didn't need to be because he only faced a misdemeanor charge.
Under the deal, Wiita cannot discuss the case with anyone but his attorneys or say anything negative about the victim.
The shroud of silence in the criminal case mirrors that of a July civil settlement reached between Wiita and the victim. They had entered into an earlier $250,000 confidential agreement in October 1996, but the victim ended up suing Wiita in December 1998 after he allegedly stopped making payments.
Richard Lubin, Wiita's criminal attorney, said he also is forbidden from talking about the case.
The victim alleged that Wiita attacked her on Dec. 29, 1990, after he came back to his North Palm Beach home following a night out with his wife, according to police reports.
