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Fla. teens charged in beating to be tried as adults www.privateofficer.com
Florida teens charged in beating to be tried as adults http://www.privateofficer.com
Polk County Fla. April 10 2008
BREAKING NEWS
Prosecutors in Polk County Florida today, just a short time ago, decided to charge all seven Polk County teenagers – accused of pummeling a 16-year-old and videotaping it for YouTube and MySpace – as adults. The prosecutors say that the savage way that the teens beat the 16 year old girl and the fact that all of those arrested acted cohesively in concert in the crimes justifiys such action.
The other consideration was the fact the 16 year old victim was forced into a vehicle and taken to another location during her ordeal which prompted deputies to charge several of the teens with much more offenses including kidnapping.
The eighth teen involved is 18 years old and is already considered an adult under the law.
All eight teenagers now face charges of battery and kidnapping, which is punishable of up to life in prison. Three face an additional charge of tampering with a witness, which holds up to a 5-year prison term.
Polk County officials identified the teens involved as Mercades Nichols, 17; April Cooper, 14; Brittni Hardcastle, 17; Kayla Hassell, 15; Brittany Mayes, 17; Cara Murphy, 16; Zachary Ashley, 17; and Stephen Schumaker, 18. All are from Lakeland except Hassell, who is from Mulberry. Schumaker and Ashley served as lookouts during the beating, authorities said.
The teens’ first appearance in adult court is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m.
What these girls and boys did was unconscionable and disgusting. They should be punished to the maximum extent that the law allows, which will include lengthy prison sentences. I plan to personally contact the district attorney in that area with my thoughts and this matter and I guarantee there will be no leniency. These people will learn what “tough” is all about when they experience life in the general population. I hope it was worth it because their lives are effectively over.
With regard to civil matters, the families of these girls will also learn an important financial lesson as they will be cleaning out their bank accounts and selling their assets to compensate this poor girl. A lot of pain is coming their way and the value of teaching children right and wrong will be the cornerstone of this lesson.
This is outrageous…and these kids think it is ok, they need to be punished and tried as adults as their crime was well thought out and planned…i feel sorry for the girl that this happen to and should get justice. One of the girls involved even said that they were going miss cheerleading practice, this is obsured and i feel no remorse for any of them except the girl who was beaten
those teens don’t have a clue how this isn’t just a local news. i am from germany and over here we greatly discuss what has happened to that poor girl, too.
these seven retards and their families won’t be able to live a normal life again. never. and THAT is what they deserve. and a painfull death of course.
I heard of this today, and I’m outraged, I am not native of the U.S. so I can also say that this is making international news.
I hope that many people support Victoria(the victim) and make sure that these 8 teenagers are brought to justice.
This was not a little scuffle, it was not just a fight, it was pre-meditated, calculated all the way, they deserve the worst and I truly hope that the people in the United States will put these criminals away to give Victoria just a little bit of justice for what she had to suffer, knowing that the perpetrators will rot in prison.
This is truly upsetting and sick. Yes agree I they should get the maxium punishment.
I watched a show where it was being covered.
Upsetting was the fact a father of the cowardly attackers said “It was a one on one fight.”
That kind of showed me where part of the issue maybe. What parent would say that?
I could also say more but I think I am speaking more out of anger. I hope justice is server here.