The victim, a 21-year-old man police said was beaten with baseball bats Wednesday, was being treated at Bridgeport Hospital.

Emily Stearns, 18, of Black Rock Turnpike, was charged with first-degree assault. She was being held in lieu of $25,000 bond.

According to police, Stearns hired Spencer Knight, 18, described as being homeless; James Hacker, 19, of Redding; and Emily Taylor, 19, of Redding, for an undetermined sum to assault the man, who she claimed had stolen marijuana from her.

Police said Stearns told the others she wanted the man "especially hurt and humiliated." On Wednesday morning, police said Stearns lured the man to the Last Drop coffee shop on Main Street. Once there however, police said he was met in the parking lot by the others, who were wearing masks and carrying baseball bats.

While Stearns watched, police said, the others began beating the man until he fell to the ground.

Officers arrived on the scene while the beating was going on and arrested Knight, Hacker and Taylor. Police said Stearns was arrested after a short foot chase. Police said Hacker also had pepper spray and a pair of brass knuckles in his pocket.

Hacker, Knight and Taylor were charged with first-degree assault and were being held in lieu of bonds