GUILTY FL - Michael Brewer, 15, set ablaze by classmates, Deerfield Beach, 12 Oct 2009

[Wise Old Owl]

UPDATE:

First - I really really REALLY wanted to go down there yesterday (opening statements) - didn't happen. Then heard last night that Jarvis and Mendez were set to testify today - and again, wanted to go. Man I hate it when real life gets in the way of things - ya know? Anyway, here's what's happening.

Witness: Defendant in Brewer burning case offered friends $5 to fight boy

BY DANIEL CHANG
[email protected]
The second day of trial for Matthew “Zeke” Bent, the teenager charged with attempted second-degree murder for the burning of Michael Brewer in October 2009, began Wednesday with the testimony of a boy who was there when it happened

**more at link**
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/12/2847454/witness-defendant-in-brewer-burning.html#storylink=cpy


Story that's coming out through testimony is this:

Bent (the ringleader and kid on trial) offered several boys $5 to beat up Michael. He also offered Jarvis $5 to throw the rubbing alcohol on Michael. Jarvis is supposed to testify to this this afternoon.

Bent was pizzed off because of previous events. Michael's family had Bent arrested the day before because Bent either tried to steal or did steal a custom bicycle that was actually Michael's father's. Bent had threatened Michael - which was why Michael didn't so to school that day. Mom and dad let him stay home. So that probably egged Bent on even more - he couldn't "bully" Michael at school because Michael wasn't there.

Bent, Jarvis and Mendez found the rubbing alcohol just sitting on top of a wall and took it. The rest of the story we pretty much know.


So, with this testimony of Bent offering money to "hurt" Michael - I think he's done. His defense has been that 1) he didn't throw anything on Michael and 2) he didn't light the lighter that set him on fire - so essentially he's not guilty of anything.

Yea right.

With this $5 offer and when Michael takes the stand and talks about the threats made - me thinks Mr. Bent is going to get all 30 years. But that's JMHO. He should have taken the plea.

 

[daisy7]

Michael Brewer remembers the day he was set on fire and nearly lost his life. But the memory he shared with jurors Thursday in Broward Criminal Court differed slightly from the testimony given by previous witnesses in the attempted second-degree murder trial of Matthew “Zeke” Bent, the alleged ringleader and last remaining defendant in the case.

Brewer said he was never surrounded, as others testified earlier, when a group of boys poured rubbing alcohol over his body and set him ablaze by the driveway of a Deerfield Beach apartment complex in October 2009.

Brewer, who was 15 at the time, recalls walking away from an after-school encounter with a group of other boys. But he remembers being confronted only by Bent, who was chasing him on a bicycle.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/...m-michael-brewer-testifies.html#storylink=cpy

 

[daisy7]

Defense attorneys for Matthew Bent, the Deerfield Beach teenager accused of orchestrating the fiery attack on Michael Brewer in 2009, rested their case Monday morning without calling a single witness.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/18/2855347/defense-begins-in-brewer-trial.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Wise Old Owl]

LIVE STREAMING of closing arguments here:

http://www.wsvn.com/video/ch2/

 

[Wise Old Owl]

And we are now on verdict watch.

Defense is that Matthew "Zeke" Bent never physically did anything that cause Michael to be set on fire. He didn't throw the alcohol - he didn't "flick" the lighter - he was just "there". And because he played no part in the physical act - he is not guilty.

State claims (through testimony) that Zeke offered several witnesses money that day to "fight Michael" or hit Michael. Also that he offered Jarvis money to throw the alcohol on Michael. That Zeke was angry and had motive as Michael's family had him arrested the day before. He had threatened Michael and that's why Michael didn't go to school that day. And just because Zeke didn't physically take part in the crime - he was the mastermind, the ringleader and its through those actions that he is guilty.

I'm wondering how long this is going to take. Its a jury of 6. And they can convict of lesser included charges.

So now we wait..................................

 

[daisy7]

Jurors will continue deliberations, and likely deliver a verdict Tuesday in the trial of a Deerfield Beach teenager accused of inciting his friends to set their classmate, Michael Brewer on fire during an after-school confrontation in October 2009.

The case went to the jury Monday after Matthew Bent, 17, declined to take the stand in his own defense. Bent faces attempted second-degree murder for allegedly encouraging a friend to pour rubbing alcohol on Brewer. Another teen then flicked a lighter and set Brewer ablaze, causing second- and third-degree burns over most of the boy’s body and nearly killing him.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/18/2855347/defense-begins-in-brewer-trial.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Wise Old Owl]

VERDICT!!!

Just read on live stream TV here.

GUILTY of aggravated battery. This was one of the lesser included charges. From what they are saying on TV - he faces up to 5 years in prison.

Again, Matthew Bent GUILTY of aggravated battery in the Michael Brewer case.


As soon as links start to show up - I'll post one.


ETA: Correction on the sentence. He faces up to 15 years in prison and 15 years probation.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Link:

Teen found guilty of lesser charge in Michael Brewer attack

By Daniel Chang
[email protected]

Jurors found a Deerfield Beach teenager guilty of aggravated battery Tuesday for orchestrating the fiery attack on Michael Brewer in 2009.
It was a much lesser charge than Matthew Bent, 17, could have been convicted of. For more than a week, he’s been in front of a Broward County jury facing attempted second degree murder charges, which could have come with a 30-year prison sentence.

**more at link**

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/19/2857759/teen-found-guilty-in-michael-brewer.html#storylink=cpy

 

[daisy7]

— The accused ringleader in the burning of Michael Brewer was convicted Tuesday of aggravated battery, a charge that carries a 15-year maximum prison sentence.

Matthew Bent, 17, avoided the more serious attempted murder charge brought by prosecutors who wanted him held fully accountable for the Oct. 12, 2009, attack that nearly killed Brewer. The verdict acknowledged that Bent played an active role in the crime, ordering or offering to pay Denver Jarvis to pour a jug of rubbing alcohol on Brewer in the moments leading up to the burning.

But the jury did not hold Bent responsible for the action of Jesus Mendez, who admitted he acted on his own when he pulled out a lighter and flicked it, igniting the liquid and setting Brewer ablaze.

(snip)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/br...brewer-verdict-watch-20120619,0,6335990.story

 

[daisy7]

New judge to hold hearings in Brewer case

A new judge has taken over the case of Matthew Bent, the Deerfield Beach teenager convicted of inciting the burning attack of Michael Brewer in October 2009. Bent has yet to be sentenced, and requested a new trial after a juror complained post-verdict.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/31/2923688/new-judge-to-hold-hearings-in.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Elley Mae]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...in-prison-for-burning-attack-authorities-say/

Michael Brewer Update: Matthew Bent, Fla. teen, sentenced to 11 years in prison for burning attack, authorities say

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Woke up to this - this morning:


Michael Brewer arrested on drug charges
Teen recovered after being set on fire
Published On: Mar 21 2013 08:55:44 AM EDT Updated On: Mar 21 2013 10:27:18 AM EDT



http://www.local10.com/news/Michael...ges/-/1717324/19408158/-/admwf4z/-/index.html

 

[tlcya]

very sad to see

Palm Beach County Jail records show 18-year-old Michael Brewer was booked into jail early Thursday on multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, marijuana and a controlled substance without a prescription.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/2...rned-in-0-arrested-on-multiple/#ixzz2OBohqEwM

 

[LietKynes]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...lassmates-in-2009-busted-on-drug-charges?lite

"...He originally told police the assailants were upset after an argument over a $40 video game but admitted on the stand that was a lie. The dispute was actually over drug paraphernalia one boy wanted to sell the victim...."
endquote

Most msm sources cited the videogame as the reason for the altercation..... now it sounds like one young punk being attacked by others like him.

Not excusing what was done to M.B. in any way !

Agreed , very sad ... and it would appear this young man has not learned his lesson.
jmo

 

[tlcya]

The argument stemmed from the perpetrators trying to get Brewer to buy a pot pipe. Mr. Brewer declined. The perp then stole a bicycle from the Brewer family.

I am remembering that this young man went through an awful, horrifying, extremely painful event followed by a looooooong recovery period from those burns. I would imagine that drugs were a necessity in his recovery.

How many times have we seen it. Someone get drastically wounded or hurt, they are prescribed very serious pain control medications and then later on down the road end up using street drugs and being addicts?

I don't think it is a matter of him "not learning his lesson"

I suspect the treatment of his injuries awakened an addiction issue for this young man.

I hope he straightens himself out.

 

[Reader]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/...rges_n_2924292.html?utm_hp_ref=crime&ir=Crime

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Authorities say a South Florida teenager who was set on fire by classmates when he was 15 has been arrested on multiple drug charges.

Palm Beach County Jail records show 18-year-old Michael Brewer was booked into jail early Thursday on multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, marijuana and a controlled substance without a prescription................


Has video and copy of arrest report

 

[Wise Old Owl]

I kinda agree with you tl. The original argument was over a "bowl" that either one or the other wanted to sell. So, Michael was into weed. For me, personally, in today's world - that's not really a big deal.

And yes, you're right - the drugs he must have been on over the past few years had to be serious - and needed - the sad side effect of some of those are addiction.

What I don't get is the crack cocaine. That helps NOTHING. Not even pain. Sad to see him going in a downhill spiral. Hopefully this wakes him up and he gets his chit together. Also the fact that there were several others in the van - could be he's just running with the wrong crowd and he needs to re-think his friends.

I feel bad for his parents and grandma - they must be very upset with all this. Noon news here said he's been released - he was offered ROR but declined and said he wanted to post bail, which his parents did. He's home and has to submit to random drug testing - I didn't get any info about next court date.



JMHO


ETA: Here's the arrest affadavit:

http://www.local10.com/blob/view/-/...vz/-/Michael-Brewer-PC-PDF.pdf?format=rss_2.0

 

[tlcya]

The crack comes into play because once you are hiding from your feelings or troubles in drugs or alcohol, you will try each and every drug that comes along. And cocaine was once used as a pain reliever along with being used to provide a burst of energy (coca cola of olden times for instance).

 

[JeannaT]

Very sad.

 

[Filly]

His arrest comes one day after one of his attackers got a reduced sentence.

Brewer was let go with a "stay out of trouble" and "get random drug testing". Considering they found an empty bottle of morphine with his name on it and the severity of the crack I'd think they'd order this kid to treatment.

Sending up prayers for him and his family. They don't need to go through another horrible experience. I truly hope he gets help. Kicking him loose is not going to do it IMO.