Fla. Teen Charged In Pregnant Girlfriend Beating

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) - A Gulf Coast-area teenager is in jail accused of hiring someone to beat up his pregnant girlfriend in order to make her miscarry.

Authorities say 18-year-old Devin R. Nickels was arrested Monday by the Florida State University Police Department in Tallahassee. He is charged with solicitation to commit aggravated battery.

Authorities say he hired 19-year-old Andres Luis Marrero to kidnap his 17-year-old pregnant girlfriend. Authorities say Nickels and the girl were at an apartment complex and Marrero came over pretending to be an armed robber. He allegedly forced them into the woods and kicked her in the stomach. She was treated and the fetus appeared to be uninjured.

Marrero faces charges of armed kidnapping and aggravated battery on a pregnant female.

It wasn't immediately known if they had attorneys.

___

Information from: St. Petersburg Times, http://tampabay.com