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Nov 10, 2009 5:48 pm US/Eastern
Three Teens Charged In Fiery Attack, Two Sent Home
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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Matthew Bent (left), Denver Jarvis (center), and Jesus Mendez (right) have all been charged with attempted second degree murder.
Broward Sheriff's Office/CBS
One of the five teens originally arrested for allegedly setting 15-year-old Michael Brewer on fire was back in court Tuesday morning on an un-related matter.
After pleading not guilty to a prior criminal mischief charge, the judge ordered that the 13-year-old was not allowed out in public unless he was accompanied by an adult. CBS4.com is not revealing the teens name because he is a minor.
On Monday the 13-year-old and another teen were released from the juvenile detention facility after prosecutors determined that at this time no charges would be filed against them.
The remaining three teens held in the attack; Denver Jarvis and Matthew Bent, both 15, and Jesus Mendez, 16, have been charged with attempted second degree murder, a first-degree felony. Monday evening they were transferred from the juvenile detention center to BSO's Main Jail in Ft. Lauderdale. On Tuesday, all three were in bond court.
"Based on the horrific allegations, turning this boy into a human torch, and for the safety of our community you are held with no bond until further court order," ruled Broward Circuit Judge Lee Seidman.
Mendez, who is accused of dousing Brewer with rubbing alcohol, hung his head during the hearing. The attorney representing Bent, who is accused of orchestrating the attack, was not happy with the judge's characterization.
"To refer to Michael as a 'human torch' diminishes the injuries he sustained," said Bent's public defender Gordon Weekes, "It also diminishes the seriousness of punishment of the other children in the criminal process."
Each faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
The 19-year-old sister of one of the boys who was released told CBS4 reporter Gwen Belton that she's glad he's out of juvenile detention. She said, "I'm happy my brother's home, he needs to be home, he didn't need to be in there."
She and the boy's attorney say he will stay with relatives out of town and will be home-schooled.
"He's home, he's not gonna be in this neighborhood, and he's gonna stay away from all these kids. That's all we care about right now," said his sister.
She also says she and her brother are concerned about Brewer.
"That's my brother's best friend, and I feel terribly sorry. All my prayers go to Michael and his family."
CBS4 reporter Natalia Zea spoke with Michael Brewer's mother Valerie on the telephone Monday. Brewer had no idea that the three boys were charged as adults, and she was happy about it.
Jarvis, Bent and Menendez will likely be arraigned next week.
The five teens were accused of surrounding Brewer last month in a Deerfield Beach apartment building's pool area, dousing him in rubbing alcohol and the setting him on fire. Police have said they were retaliating in a dispute that began when Brewer allegedly didn't pay for a video game he had bought from one of the boys.
Brewer, who suffered burns over two-thirds of his body, remains at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Hospital officials say despite the fact that Brewer's family has insurance it will not cover many expenses.
If you would like to help, CBS4 partners Neighbors 4 Neighbors is accepting donations for the family.
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CBS4.com's Daniel Lastra, Jasmine Kripalani and reporter Joan Murray contributed to this report.
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