Six Teen Suspects In Videotaped Beating Out of Jail

Six of the teens accused in the videotape beating in Polk County bonded out of Jail Friday night. Only Stephen Shumaker and Britney Mayes remained behind bars.

On their own videotape, six Polk County girls laughed in another girl's face as they beat her so badly she was hospitalized. Friday in court, they hung their heads in shame.

SLIDESHOW: Images Of Teens During Their Bond Hearings VOTE: Do You Agree With Decision To Charge Teens As Adults?VIDEO REPORT:Bond Hearing Held For Teen's Accused In Beating

Not only will the girls be tried as adults for their videotaped attack, Judge Angela Cowden doubled the normal bond for all eight teens.

Each is now held on anywhere from $31,000 to $37,000 for kidnapping and battery and Friday many of their parents told Eyewitness News they can't afford to get their kids out.

More than one parent came out of the Polk County courtroom sobbing. People like Mary Nichols learned getting her 17-year-old granddaughter Mercades out of jail would now take serious money.

"I don't have the money to bond her out," Nichols said.

The six teenage girls and two boys are accused of orchestrating a videotaped beating of 16-year-old Victoria Lindsay last month. Now, they appeared by video in court where a judge decided they should all be held on more than $30,000 bond for battery and kidnapping charges that could carry a maximum life sentence.

Videotaped Beating Teen Girl Suspects Bond Hearing BETTER Mashup Of Mugs 041108 » See Bond Hearing Images « Three of the girls are also accused of tampering with a witness, including 17-year-old Brittini Hardcastle, who prosecutors described as one of the most active participants in the beating. Her mother didn't want to talk about it.

"We have death threats on us, okay? Leave us alone," she said.

The victim's parents watched intently in court, but said nothing after it was over.

Eighteen-year-old Stephen Schumaker's father turned his anger to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who decided to release the video and is now under a gag order by the court.

"Grady Judd, our great sheriff, he made a mountain out of a molehill with all these trumped up charges for these kids," he said.

The judge set strict rules if any of the teens comes up with the money to get out of jail. They cannot return to Mulberry High School, use any Internet sites like MySpace or YouTube and there's a strict curfew that essentially keeps them under house arrest.

Previous Stories: April 11, 2008: Teens Accused Of Polk County Videotaped Beating Charged As Adults April 10, 2008: Girls Charged In Brutal Videotaped Beating To Be Tried As Adults April 10, 2008: Callers Harass Wrong Family In Videotaped Teen Beating Case April 9, 2008: Judge Issues Gag Order In Videotaped Beating Of Teen Girl April 8, 2008: Girls Record Brutal Attack On Teen To Allegedly Post On YouTube