Florida Teens Beat Classmate In Court: Judge Detains Youths For 'Extreme Violence'

OCALA, Fla. — A judge has placed seven central Fla. teens on home detention after they were charged with punching and kicking a 13-year-old girl until she was unconscious.

During Saturday's hearing, State Attorney John Zaleskie asked the judge to detain the youths until arraignment because of "extreme violence" and injuries suffered by the victim. The teens had no prior arrests.

The Ocala Star Banner ( ) reports the teens were appointed public defenders and cannot have contact with each other or the victim while on home detention. Their parents declined comment. http://lb.vg/9Xy4k

The youths were charged with battery and disorderly conduct Friday after allegedly forming a circle around another girl on the school bus and hitting and kicking her repeatedly. The victim told deputies it was her first day riding the bus and no one would let her sit down. She suffered a concussion.

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Comments

[mrreindeer]

04:06 AM on 01/10/2012

Sounds exactly like kids were behaving on school buses in the '60s and '70s, when I was in public school. One time a girl stabbed me in the butt with a needle as I stood in aisle. I didn't turn her in because she was one of the "popular" ones. Ashamed to say, I engaged in bullying and other despicable behavior as well, though I at least never stabbed anyone.

[CWAVvolunteer]

06:57 PM on 01/09/2012

Please support and "Like" Ambassador's 4 Kids Club (A4K). This is a non-profit organization for our youth so that they may learn the skills they need to be an integral part of the formation of their communities. Let’s motivate our children to be the best they can be!!!

[CWAVvolunteer]

06:57 PM on 01/09/2012

Stop Bullying! Let’s Rock This Nation Into Action! Want to Save the Planet? Start With America’s Kids! Visit www. childrenwithoutavoiceusa. org

[CITYTERRACE63]

06:39 PM on 01/09/2012

Take these little monsters and charge them with felony assault and attempted murder and try them as adults. 15 -20 years in an adult prison sounds fair to me.

[ethelmertzrules]

04:34 PM on 01/09/2012

The headline made it sound like the beating occurred in court. I am wholeheartedly depressed with HP's writers and their inability to turn a phrase.

[melisajane1123]

04:19 PM on 01/09/2012

I have to agree with so many of the others commenting on this story, PLEASE HuffPost, hire someone who knows how to use correct grammar/wording, etc. It really makes you look stupid.

[MelO86]

03:58 PM on 01/09/2012

"Florida Teens Beat Classmate In Court: Judge Detains Youths For 'Extreme Violence' "

Is it just me, or does the headline make it sound like a bunch of kids beat a classmate while they were in court. Maybe adding "who" before "beat" or something like that would sound more accurate.

[smileyjenn]

03:25 PM on 01/09/2012

Who was driving this bus?

[byte000me]

02:57 PM on 01/09/2012

The judge was wrong! This girl was assaulted and hurt, could have been even more serious then it was, by sending these kids home the judge is sending the message of a slap on the wrist " oh your grounded" which means nothing to kids and bullies and sometimes the parents will not go along with the judge, they should have been put in juvie and shown this is what happens when you assault someone!!! Bad call by the judge

[Celiene]

03:23 PM on 01/09/2012

They have home detention UNTIL they go to court on the charges. That is not their final punishment.

[bluefalcon06]

02:06 PM on 01/09/2012

We need a very strict justice system that will punish the kids for many, many years. Make them live in fear if they commit violence. Put them in grown up prisons.

[ethelmertzrules]

04:36 PM on 01/09/2012

That's a bit harsh for my taste. How about revamping the school systems and staffing them with qualified teachers and mental health professionals that can help children where there parents fail to? It would cost, sure, but would ultimately save us from having to deal with some career criminals.

[Progressneeded]

08:42 PM on 01/10/2012

I wonder if the parents should not be held accountable too! This behavior is learned at home.

[katgal1232]

12:06 PM on 01/09/2012

out the parents and plaster their pictures all over these kids will never touch another human again.

[rockysparks]

11:50 AM on 01/09/2012

OK, this is a classic example of bad headline writing, HP.

The headline makes it sound like the kids actually beat this girl up while in the courtroom ...

[dhanuw]

01:17 PM on 01/09/2012

I totally agree with you. It seem like they do it on purpose to attract readers.

[rockysparks]

01:31 PM on 01/09/2012

I liked the earlier comment where they were accused of coming in with Monday morning hangovers ...

[bluefalcon06]

02:07 PM on 01/09/2012

I thought the same thing, so I was wondering if it meant that, or if they won in court against her, which it was neither.

[rockysparks]

02:13 PM on 01/09/2012

And all because some headline writer didn't proofread ...

[celtcalgal]

10:49 AM on 01/09/2012

whats wrong with juvenile detention ?

[Rhonda Key]

10:45 AM on 01/09/2012

Sentence them to home detention, where they have access to phone, internet, TV, Video Games ETC..... WTH!!!!! They need to be in a locked down Facility. Cages meant for the animals that they are.

[kathy smelser]

10:23 AM on 01/09/2012

WOW home detention with the television with the xbox with the cell phone and maybe a refrigerator full of food .....what is the message the judge is sending ?

[gerald4]

11:37 AM on 01/09/2012

The judge is saying to do it again, since there is no penalty!

[KKS278]

12:43 PM on 01/09/2012

That is exactly what I was thinking! Man some punishment while that poor girl is living through hell.