Apr 13, 2008 8:38 am US/Eastern
"Dr. Phil" Posts Bail For Teen Accused In Beating
BARTOW, FL (CBS4) ―
One of the teens accused in the taped beating of a Central Florida girl has been bailed out of jail by employees of the "Dr. Phil" television show.
"We have helped guests and potential guests in the past when they need financial assistance to come on the show -- assisting with clothing allowance, lost wages, accommodations, travel and necessities," wrote "Dr. Phil" McGraw's spokeswoman Terri Corigliano. "In this case, certain staff members went beyond our guidelines (re the bail being paid).
Over the weekend, staff members in the process of booking guests for an upcoming show about the incident posted bail for 17-year old Mercades Nichols, an act which violated the show's policies.
"These staff members have been spoken to and our policies reiterated," wrote Corigliano. "In addition, we have decided not to go forward with the story as our guidelines have been compromised."
Of the eight charged in the attack, two remain behind bars in the Polk County jail. All of the teens, who will be tried as adults, face a felony charge of witness tampering, kidnapping and misdemeanor battery charges. Friday a judge set bail for the teens, whose ages range from 14 to 18 years old, from $30,000 to $37,000.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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