Video of fight leads to mom's arrest

CHAMPAIGN - A central Illinois mother is behind bars after police say she encouraged her 15-year-old daughter to fight another girl in a confrontation that was later posted on YouTube.

Dawn Morris, 37, was arrested Thursday on a preliminary charge of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile, said Champaign police spokeswoman Rene Dunn. Morris was being held at the Champaign County jail and was due in court Friday.

Morris' daughter and another 15-year-old girl fought Tuesday at a park near the girls' high school, according to police and Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz.

"(Morris) was egging her on, yelling at her to beat up the other girl, encouraging her to continue the fight," Rietz said.

Someone recorded the fight with a cell phone camera, then posted the video on the YouTube Web site. School officials found out about it and called police.

The video has since been taken off the site, but Rietz said it showed a crowd of 10 to 15 people watching and cheering.

No one answered a message left by The Associated Press at a telephone listing for Morris. She does not yet have an attorney, Rietz said.

The girls suffered minor injuries and were arrested on charges of aggravated battery, police said. They have been released to relatives, Rietz said.

A YouTube video of the 2008 beating of a Florida teen led the convictions of five girls, creating a national stir. One girl was briefly jailed while the other four were sentenced to probation.