One of five teenage girls facing charges in the videotaped beating of a Polk County cheerleader accepted a plea deal Tuesday morning. ...more

January 28, 2009

Two former Florida A&M University fraternity brothers on Tuesday pleaded no contest to hazing a pledge and will avoid a third trial in the case. ...more

January 27, 2009

One of five teenage girls facing charges in the videotaped beating of a Polk County cheerleader accepted a plea deal Tuesday morning. Mercades Nichols, 18, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail. ...more

January 27, 2009

More Getting Free Lunch The percentage of Pasco County students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals is on the rise and expected to top 50 percent by the end of February. ...more

January 18, 2009

A Lakeland man was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for his role in the March 2006 robbery of a Dover brothel in which a man was killed. ...more

January 12, 2009

The criminal contempt case against Sami Al-Arian may collapse because of the actions of the federal prosecutor who brought the charges in Virginia, two law professors say. ...more

December 21, 2008

David Bishop, 43, entered a guilty plea today on three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving teenage girls. ...more

December 15, 2008

A man authorities blamed for blowing up a fireworks tent last year pleaded no contest to first-degree arson Friday. ...more

December 10, 2008

A man authorities blamed for blowing up a fireworks tent last year pleaded no contest to first-degree arson Friday. ...more

December 6, 2008

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday to a state dogfighting charge, a move that could make him eligible to leave prison early and potentially speed up a return to pro football. ...more

November 26, 2008