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All 8 In Beating Case Free

Pool photo

Stephen Schumaker,18, was released from jail overnight.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 14, 2008

BARTOW - Stephen Thomas Schumaker, one of eight teens accused of attacking a 16-year-old girl and recording the incident on video, posted bail and has been released from Polk County Jail, the sheriff's office said.

Schumaker was the last of the eight teens to get out of jail.

The other teens arrested are Brittany Mayes, April Cooper, Cara Murphy, Kayla Hassell, Brittni Hardcastle, Zachary Ashley and Mercades Nichols.

Staff members from the television show "Dr. Phil" helped post bail Friday night for Nichols.

Bail ranging from $30,000 to $37,000 was set Friday for all the youngsters, who range in age from 14 to 18. The amounts were more than double the standard for the charges they face: kidnapping, misdemeanor battery and tampering with a witness.

Each is charged with the first two crimes, but three also are charged with tampering.

The teens are accused of beating 16-year-old Victoria Lindsay on March 30 at a Lakeland home.

The incident was recorded on video and became a sensation because the teenagers planned to post the footage on MySpace and YouTube in retaliation for Lindsay trash-talking them online, the sheriff's office said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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