Remember this story last year about a 15yo (now 16) Michael Brewer? Several teens doused rubbing alcohol on him and lit him on fire - burning 65% of his body. All this because of a $40 video game and 'snitching' to the police on a stolen bicycle. Plea deals from the prosecutor were rejected by these teens lawyers. It looks like these teens will be going to trial.
Lawyers representing three teenagers suspected of setting another boy on fire rejected plea deals Friday.
For the first time in more than a year, Michael Brewer faced his three former friends, who, one by one, walked into court wearing orange jumpsuits and shackles.
The three teens are accused of pouring alcohol over Brewer and setting him on fire last year, after a dispute over a video game and $40. He suffered burns over 65 percent of his body and was hospitalized for more than two months.
It was unclear Friday whether the alleged attackers knew Brewer was in the courtroom. The teens did not exchange words.
Brewer, who celebrated his 16th birthday last week, told CNN's John Zarrella that he wished he could deal with his three former friends himself.
"But, it's over and done with. They're getting what they deserved," he said, adding that he is undergoing therapy to work through his anger over the attack.
The three teens -- Denver Jarvis and Mathew Bent, both now 16, and Jesus Mendez, now 17 -- have been charged as adults with second-degree attempted murder.
Jarvis and Bent could each face prison sentences between six and 30 years. Mendez could face up to 50 years in prison.
In court, prosecutors revealed that in exchange for guilty pleas, they had been willing to offer the defendants reduced sentences. Link
This is 16yo Michael Brewer! It began as 5 teens against 1. 3 teens are now facing attempted murder charges.
The older Mendez boy admitted that he "made a bad decision". This is not one of those 'bad decisions' where the defendant picked curtain B rather than curtain A - and no one got hurt. This is attempted murder! If this was his attitude and response to a stupid $40 video game dispute - he is a sociopath in the making. He deserves to be in prison for a long time.
These 3 boys are thugs and should be treated as thugs! A guilty verdict and prison time of 20 or more years should teach them a hard lesson.
