'Dr. Phil' staff bails out girl charged in beating

updated 12:49 p.m. ET April 13, 2008

BARTOW, Fla. - Employees of the “Dr. Phil” television show posted bail for a central Florida teenager jailed for taking part in a videotaped beating of another teen, a spokeswoman for the show’s host confirmed Saturday.

Staff members of the talk show helped Mercades Nichols — one of eight teens facing charges in the case — post bond this weekend, “Dr. Phil” McGraw’s spokeswoman Terri Corigliano said in an e-mail.

“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,” Corigliano wrote. “In this case, certain staff members went beyond our guidelines (re the bail being paid).

“These staff members have been spoken to and our policies reiterated. In addition, we have decided not to go forward with the story as our guidelines have been compromised.”

The show’s producers were in the process of booking guests for a program about the case, Corigliano wrote.

Video   Teen beating caught on tape April 8: Six girls viciously attacked a high school classmate. Why? They claim she was posting nasty messages about them online. NBC’s Martin Savidge reports. Today show

Only two of the teens remained jailed late Saturday night, Polk County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Scott Wilder said.

The teens, whose ages range from 14 to 18, face kidnapping and misdemeanor battery charges. Three also face a felony charge of witness tampering. The state attorney’s office says all will be tried as adults.

They are accused of participating in a violent beating of another teenager, which was videotaped and has now been viewed widely on national television and the Internet.

A judge on Friday set bails ranging from $30,000 to $37,000 for the teenagers.

McGraw drew criticism earlier this year when he confronted troubled pop star Britney Spears at the UCLA Medical Center during a stay at the facility.

At one point, McGraw had planned an episode of the “Dr. Phil” show about Spears, but quickly abandoned the idea. He has since apologized for discussing his visit publicly — but not for visiting her.

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