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Nichols Pleads Guilty In Polk Teen Beating Case

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By KRISTA KLAUS | News Channel 8

Published: January 27, 2009

BARTOW - One of five teenage girls facing charges in the videotaped beating of a Polk County cheerleader accepted a plea deal Tuesday morning. Mercades Nichols, 18, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop felony kidnapping and witness tampering charges, which carry maximum sentences of life in prison and five years in prison, respectively. Under the deal, Nichols will face up to three years' probation.

Last month Brittany Mayes entered a similar plea. Mayes was first arrested in April, along with four other teen girls and two teen boys. The teens were accused of participating in an attack on the then-16-year-old Victoria Lindsay and recording the beating on video.

Polk County sheriff's detectives say the teens were going to post the video on YouTube and MySpace in retaliation for online smack-talking between the girls.

Charges against the boys, who were accused of acting as lookouts, were dropped.

Under the terms of the plea, Nichols must write a letter of apology to Lindsay, perform 100 community service hours and is forbidden to contact the media in order to profit from the case. She also agrees not to contact the victim.

Judge Keith Spoto made it clear to Nichols that he would revoke her plea agreement if she failed to comply with the terms.

Nichols' sentencing is set for March 5.

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