Gag Order Issued In Case Of Girls Accused Of 'Animalistic' Beating
Sheriff Says Teens Should Be Tried As Adults
Judge J. Michael McCarthy granted the request filed in a motion by Rusty Franklin, who is representing Zachary Ashley, 17, one of two boys accused of being a lookout for the girls during the alleged attack on Victoria Lindsay, a Mulberry High School cheerleader.The judge's order restricts lawyers, court personnel, law enforcement and witnesses from releasing information about the case.The motion said the Polk County Sheriff's Office released a "barrage of inflammatory, prejudicial information" about the case and says that disclosures to the media have created a "substantial likelihood" that Ashley cannot receive a fair trial.Video of the beating was released by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Monday, and Sheriff Grady Judd has since spoken to the media multiple times, saying that the accused teens should be tried as adults and that they did not take their arrests seriously. Judd said the attack was "animalistic" and the assailants had a “pack mentality.”"Some parents were remorseful. The kids really were not. They were laughing and joking about, (saying), 'I guess we won't get to go to the beach during spring break.' And one, as you said, asked whether she could go to cheerleading practice," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.The beating was in retaliation for the victim saying disparaging things about the girls on her MySpace page, deputies said. The girls planned on posting the video of the beating on YouTube and MySpace, deputies said.Lindsay is still recovering from her injuries.The six girls accused in the attack and Ashley are in juvenile detention. The other alleged lookout, an 18-year-old man, is free on bail.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.







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