Media elites are at it again—this time rushing to protect a pack of eight teens accused of ransacking a Dick’s Sporting Goods while on a Florida football trip. Local station 6ABC blurred the suspects’ faces, igniting backlash from viewers who are sick and tired of the soft-glove treatment offenders often get in cities run by progressive prosecutors like Philadelphia’s Larry Krasner.
The eight teenagers, aged 14 and 15, had traveled with their United Thoroughbreds youth football team to compete in the Prolifix Sportz National Championship. Instead, they allegedly made off with 47 items valued at over $2,200. According to Judd, the group “systematically” took merchandise, dividing into smaller groups: one teen would make a legitimate purchase while the others filled a Dick’s shopping bag with stolen goods.
Judd summarized the spree bluntly: “They stole, and they stole, and they stole.” Hoodies, lip guards, football gloves—essentially anything they could carry.
However, the sheriff’s office, recognized for its thorough approach to crime, quickly intervened. Store staff monitored the entire incident on surveillance cameras. As Judd wryly noted, “Guess what… you can’t go anyplace, anytime that you’re not on camera.”
The eight youths were taken to a juvenile detention center and charged with two felonies each: retail theft over $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft. As a result, they missed the championship game entirely—something Judd didn’t fail to point out.
One fed-up viewer blasted the station on X: “Why is 6abc now concealing the images of the losers who stole from Dicks in Florida? Wow.” Another piled on: “Unbelievable. They should not be protected from being recognized.”
The reason 6ABC gave the teens anonymity? They’re minors. But critics weren’t buying it—especially since their names were already publicly released by the sheriff:
Daimon Johnson; Elijah Myers; Ibm-Mahdee Abdul-Haqq; Jacob Smith; Marcus Hudgens; Mark Bryan; Tymir Smith; and Tymir Speller.
Even without prior criminal records, all eight must return to Florida to face their charges. And Judd had one final parting message for would-be thieves everywhere:
“If you don’t steal, we’re your new best friends. If you steal, we’re your worst enemy. Merry Christmas.”
Florida doesn’t play. And Sheriff Grady Judd certainly doesn’t.
