Staff members of the "Dr. Phil" TV show posted bail for a central Florida
teenage girl jailed and facing trial for taking part in a videotaped beating of
another teen, a spokesman for the show's host admitted Saturday.
The talk show personnel helped Mercades Nichols¡ªone of eight teens facing
charges in the case¡ªpost bond this weekend, "Dr. Phil" McGraw¡¯s spokeswoman
Terri Corigliano said in an e-mail.
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.
"We have helped guests and potential guests in the past when they need
financial assistance to come on the show¡ªassisting 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.
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.