OCALA, Fla. (AP) _ 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 (http://lb.vg/9Xy4k ) 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.
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.