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Suspect Wants to Discuss Beating

One of eight teenagers charged asks permission to travel, give interviews.


By Bill Rufty
The Ledger

Published: Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 2:24 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.

BARTOW | Mercades Nichols, one of eight teens charged as adults in the March beating of 16-year-old Victoria Lindsay, wants permission to talk publicly about the case and travel out of state to give interviews, according to a written request filed in Circuit Court.

SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER
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Mercades Nichols,17, at her first appearance in the Central County Jail in Bartow. She is one of eight teenagers accused of taking part in a videotaped beating of a 16-year-old Lakeland girl. All eight will be charged as adults.
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The motion to modify the terms of Nichols' pretrial release also requests eliminating her house arrest conditions and allowing her to get a job.

Nichols' lawyer, James Holz, said he was advised to file the motion after asking permission from a court employee for Nichols to speak with the media and "issue a possible apology."

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Circuit Court before Judge Keith Spoto.

Lindsay had been living with Nichols in Lakeland for about a week March 30 when, the Polk County Sheriff's Office has said, she was attacked by six female schoolmates after arriving home. They filmed the beating and threatened to post the video on MySpace and YouTube. Two male teens stood watch as lookouts outside the home, the Sheriff's Office said.

Polk County Judge Angela J. Cowden charged all eight as adults and set stringent terms for their release before trial.

Nichols, 17, has been charged with kidnaping with intent to bodily harm or terrorize, battery, and tampering with a witness.

The terms of Nichols' release set by Cowden include no contact with Lindsay or her family; staying away from all Mulberry High School functions; no contact with co-defendants or their immediate families; not using MySpace, YouTube or any Internet chat rooms, social networking Web sites or opinion forums; not discussing the incident with anyone except her lawyer; not leaving the house except for specific purposes listed by the court; a curfew of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.; and reporting to the 10th Judicial Circuit's Pretrial Release Services Program three times a week. Holz said in the request for modification that "the evidence against her is limited and does not demonstrate any risk of flight nor a danger to the community or any of its citizens."

Holz stated in the filing that he asked Barbara Snead of Pretrial Release Services for permission for Nichols to speak with reporters and "issue a possible apology." He said Snead advised him to file the motion, which requests that the court change Nichols' pretrial release restrictions by:

deleting the house arrest conditions,

deleting restrictions on talking publicly about the case,

allowing her to travel under parental and legal supervision out of state to give interviews relating to the case,

allowing her to get a job.

[ Bill Rufty can be reached at 802-7523 or bill.rufty@theledger.com. ]


This story appeared in print on page B1

Comments

  1. miabellarisata says...
    June 1, 2008 5:05:15 am

    RE: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080601/NEWS/806010385

    First, LEDGER, I don't care for the new format. The other format was more user friendly.I think this is a good one for Spoto to get his feet wet. Why should this gal get to travel, at the expense of the tv shows and stay in a first class hotel? This is crazy! This would REWARD the gal for her actions. YES, she should be allowed to get a job LOCALLY. That video speaks for itself. Getting to fly to Chicago for Jerry Springer, or NY for other shows is something I would not agree with. On the flip side, wouldn't it be great publicity for Polk County? I bet it would control the growth problem.

  2. willy1step says...
    June 1, 2008 5:40:35 am

    That whole ordeal has become a media circus. But wouldn't it be appropriate for her to discuss this on the Jerry Springer show?

  3. Defiant says...
    June 1, 2008 6:06:29 am

    "Suspect Wants to Discuss Beating", that title should be changed to read, "Parents Want to Cash In on the Talk Show Circuit". Another great example of Poke County for the entire world to see. Hey kid and her greedy parents, have you day in court, then you can write a book and hit the circuit. Until then, shutup, work on your obvious behavioral issues and let the courts do their job. Your attorney must be a real schmuck to let you go public and make you and your family look like total boneheads.By the way, the new Ledger online format does suck. Not user friendly and even slower than before.

  4. msknowmuch says...
    June 1, 2008 6:45:05 am

    This thug-let needs the crap beat out of her. Disgusting!

  5. RedHedChik says...
    June 1, 2008 6:47:12 am

    First, they are lucky to be out on house arrest. They were thankful to be out of jail,I'm sure. She is not the first to ask for amendment to house arrest. Now they want to have special privileges. Sure she wants to go out of state-to be on TV! I never believed for a minute Dr.Phil dropped the show idea.

    And now she wants to issue a piblic apology? To help her court case,per chance?

    No. You made your bed,now lie in it.

  6. asmith1120 says...
    June 1, 2008 6:51:17 am

    She wants to get paid. She wants to make money for her actions. She can care less about her actions. she wants more than you tube. I hope they shut her up for years.

  7. amicus curiae says...
    June 1, 2008 6:58:51 am

    Why in the world would this lawyer want his client going around the world and apologizing? Basically, she'd be telling everyone she's guilty. If she wants leniency in sentencing, then plea to the court. Now, she's going around making admissions that can be used against her if she goes to trial. I smell a 3.850....

  8. whosaidthat says...
    June 1, 2008 7:07:45 am

    I would wager a fair portion of my paycheck that the mother of this girl is behind this. I would hope that the judge sees through the tease of a potential apology and leaves the restrictions in place. Sad how people try and cash in on things like this.

  9. trtsmb says...
    June 1, 2008 7:43:17 am

    Why she and her parents be allowed to cash in on the talk show circuit?

  10. SALSA1958 says...
    June 1, 2008 7:53:50 am

    No way they should let her or the family comment or profit on either way on the subject, thats is what the problem is you commit a crime and you go out and travel and maybe get money from it no,no,no. You will have your time in court to apoligize to the victim and believe it the whole nation will know.

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