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Michael Brewer Burn Story:

Michael Brewer

On October 12th, 2009, by a pool at a friend's apartment complex near Deerfield Beach, Florida, Michael Brewer was doused with a flammable liquid and then lit on fire by someone who came out from under the bushes by the pool.

Firefighter Bobby Gross

By the time firefighter Bobby Gross got to the scene, Brewer was in the pool screaming and the bushes were still on fire. After an investigation, this all turned out to be a little thing between 5 boys and Brewer about a video game that Brewer had bought from one of them but never paid them for. Brewer had "snitched" (as the kids said) about one of them trying to steal his dad's bike after Brewer not being able to give the kids $40 for the video game. Right now Brewer is still in critical condition and will remain there for another 5 months at a burn center.

Three boys, Denver Jarvis, Matthew Bent, and Jesus Mendez are the kids being tried for burning Brewer, the other two boys involved in the crime have been ruled out for the burning and weren't old enough to be tried as adults. The three boys are being charged with adult charges of attempted murder. They don't feel much remorse for what they have done, in fact, the Police reported hearing the kids laughing after the arrest. Their excuses for them setting Brewer on fire is that they wanted their video game or their money back, and that brewer wouldn't give it to them. They are going to court soon and are currently being held in prison, the investigation is still going on.

So far, no one has won or lost this case, however the three boys have no bond set, they WILL be going to prison for attempted murder. Once the investigation finishes, depending on how much each kid had to do with the crime, these kids will probably get from 15-LIFE in juvie prison until they are old enough to transfer to a different prison.

The Three Boys Being Tried As Adults

Kids, no matter what they do, are always given much more leeway for anything they commit, no matter how bad. I have heard cases where kids would kill (like stab or shot) over video games or loud music. These kind of crimes are really only treatable on a case -by- case basis. If a kid dosent even remember what he/she did, then there are obviously some mental issues that need to be addressed. I think that in some cases, like this one, kids should be tried for the crime, not the age, this is a horrible crime, and should result in a horrible consequence. I feel like any decision this judge will probably be too fair, but not unreasonable. Any person will see that these kids need to learn how to deal with consequences but also that they had lives ahead of them and they deserve to get a chance to live them.

Sources: __Images:__ __Articles:__
 * Michael Brewer [Online Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2009, from CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/11/florida.burned.boy/index.html
 * Bobby Gross [Online Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2009, from CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/11/florida.burned.boy/index.html
 * Three Boys [Online Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2009, from CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/10/florida.burned.boy.charges/index.html
 * Kotz, Pete (2009, October 26). Teens Douse 15-Year-Old Michael Brewer, Set Him On Fire. //TrueCrimeReport.com//. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://www.truecrimereport.com/2009/10/teens_douse_15-year-old_michae.php
 * Phillips, Rich (2009, November 10). No bond for 3 teens charged as adults in burning of 15-year-old. //CNN.com//. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/10/florida.burned.boy.charges/index.html
 * Phillips, Rich (2009, November 12). Dive in pool saved burned teen's life paramedic says. //CNN.com//. Retrieved November 10, 2009 from http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/11/florida.burned.boy/index.html