Two Florida teens sentenced for burning schoolmate

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DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Two Florida teenagers have been sentenced to prison for setting a schoolmate on fire.

Jesus Mendez, 18, and Denver Jarvis, 17, pleaded no contest to second degree attempted murder Wednesday for setting Michael Brewer on fire in a Deerfield Beach, Fla., parking lot two years ago, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

Mendez was sentenced to 11 years in a Florida state prison, one year of community control and 18 years of probation, while Jarvis received an eight-year prison sentence, to be followed by one year of community control and 21 years of probation.

The two are also scheduled to testify against Matthew Bent, 17, the alleged ringleader in the incident, who is taking his case to court.

Bent is accused of ordering Jarvis to pour a liquid on Brewer, then 15, that he knew was flammable. Bent was apparently angry that Brewer's family had called the police on him when he stole a custom bicycle from them the night before, court documents said.

The victims allegedly owed Bent $40 for a "Little Mermaid" video game.

Mendez then flicked a lighter, setting Brewer on fire. The three teens fled the scene, leaving Brewer to save his own life by jumping into a nearby swimming pool.

If convicted, Bent faces up to 30 years in prison.