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Michael Brewer, fifteen, set on fire by five teenage boys over video game, bicycle 

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Michael Brewer, fifteen, was doused with rubbing alcohol and set on fire by a group of five teenage boys on October 13th. Brewer had bought a video game from one of the boys, but never paid the forty dollars he owed. In compensation, the other boy then tried to steal Brewer's dad's custom bicycle, worth about five hundred dollars, on Sunday. Brewer was too scared to go to school on Monday, and so went to an apartment complex to visit a friend. While sitting by the pool, Brewer was splashed with rubbing alcohol and set on fire. The five boys who attacked Brewer were Matthew Bent, Steven Sheldon, Jesus Mendez, Denver Jarvis, all 15 and Jeremy Jarvis, 13. All of the boys are being charged with aggravated battery, and Mendez is also being charged with second degree murder, because he is the one who flicked the lighter.

The defendants claim that they attacked Brewer because of the forty dollar video game debt, but neglected to mention the attempted bicycle robbery. The boys gave no other reason or excuse for the attempt on Brewer's.

Brewer's family still claims that this terrible crime was in response to Brewer turning in one of the boys for the theft of his father's bicycle.

The court has ruled that Bent, Mendez, and Denver Jarvis have been tried as adults with the charge of second degree murder. It has been said that Bent was the one who planned the incident, and it is known that Denver Jarvis poured the alcohol, and Mendez flicked the lighter. Since Jeremy Jarvis and Sheldon were mostly just bystanders, they are only being charged with aggravated battery as adolescents. If they were adults, the consequences would surely be much higher.

I think that this was a fair ruling because fifteen year old boys know better than to set someone on fire over forty dollars and a bicycle. These boys knew what they were doing was wrong, but did it anyway, just like an adult would have. They were all perfectly sane, so they have nothing but themselves to blame their actions on. It is fair that Sheldon and Jeremy Jarvis face lighter charges, because they did not have quite as much to do with setting Brewer on fire.

Sources: (z) The Associated Press. (2009, October 13). //Florida teen doused with flamable liquid and set on fire; 3 juveniles held.// Retrieved from [] (y) The Associated Press. (2009, October 15). //Mother of Michael Brewer, Florida 15-year old set on fire by teens, says son will recover.// Retrieved from [] (x) Sun-Sentinel. (2009, October 21). //Boy competent to stand trial in teen burning.// Retrieved from [] (w) Sun-Sentinel. (2009, November 13). //Burned teen speaks to family, hospital staff.// Retrieved from [] (v) Casjmere, Jay. (2009, October 13). //Trio accused of setting teen on fire.// Retrieved from [] (u) Sun-Sentinel. (2009, October 14). //2 more kids in court for burning teen.// Retrieved from [] (t) Sun-Sentinel, //Jesus Mendez//. {Image}. Retrieved from [] (s) Jean/AP, //Michael Brewer.// {Photograph}. Retreived from []