The six girls and two boys who have beaten a 16-year-old teenager leaving her with several injuries were tried today for the first time. The eight teenagers were said to be treated just like the adults, considering the seriousness of the situation. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that "the piece that you are seeing on television is after they knocked her unconscious, and she had regained consciousness."

Apparently the girls and boys who have done this horrible thing explained that Victoria Lindsay from Lakeland, the victim, used “trash-talking” with them. As a result they took the girl to a home where they brutally beaten her while videotaping the scene. Moreover, they threatened to post the video on MySpace or YouTube. Victoria ended with a concussion and damage to her eye and ear, but also with some emotional scars. Talisa Lindsay, the victim’s mother said "How can you recover? Honestly? When something like this tragically happens to you? It will probably affect her for the rest of her life.”

The teens are being charged with kidnapping and battery. If found guilty, they could face life in prison. The 14-year-old April Cooper, 17-year-old Britney Mayes, 15-year-old Kayla Hassell, 17-year-old Brittini Hardcastle, 16-year-old Cara Murphy and 17-year-old Mercades Nichols are the accused girls, while 17-yer-old Zachary Ashley and 18-year-old Stephen Schumaker are the boys who participated at the attack. Moreover, Mayes , Hardcastle and Nichols also face a third-degree felony charge of tampering with a witness, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.

The oldest, Schumaker, had posted bail for charges of false imprisonment and felony battery and was released April 4 from Polk County Jail. The rest of the teenagers were taken from the juvenile assessment center to jail.