Guilty: Matthew 'Zeke' Bent faced a charge of attempted second-degree murder after prosecutors say he offered friends money in 2009 to harm Michael Brewer, who was doused in rubbing alcohol and set on fire

Pain: Pictured in 2009 during his recovery, 65 per cent of Mr Brewer's body was covered in burns

'I cannot ignore that, but for Mr. Bent's orchestration of these events, none of this would have happened,' Destry said.

Before he was sentenced, Bent turned and apologized to Brewer but said he was not the ringleader.

'I didn't intend for any of this to happen,' he said. 'I didn't tell nobody to do that.'

Bent faced a charge of attempted second-degree murder after prosecutors say he offered friends money in 2009 to harm Brewer, who was doused in rubbing alcohol and set on fire in Deerfield Beach, Florida.



The six jurors, who deliberated for just over a day, had the option of finding him guilty of a lesser offense.

Mr Brewer suffered severe burns over 65 percent of his body but survived after leaping into an apartment complex swimming pool.

The Brewer family had been in court for much of the trial, but weren't present Tuesday.

‘The Brewers respect the jury's decision. Now it's time for Michael to get on with his life. ...And today he has closure,’ said their attorney, Jeanne Brady.

Leader: Matthew Bent was presented by prosecutors as the ringleader of the attack

Prosecutors echoed Brady.

‘Michael Brewer spent the last three years healing from his physical wounds. And now he's moving on with his emotional wounds,’ said Kal Le Var Evans, an assistant state attorney.

A defense attorney said the three years that Bent has been in jail awaiting trial was already a hefty penalty.

‘He thought that three years for his involvement was quite substantial,’ said defense attorney Perry Thurston, Jr. ‘He's disappointed.’

Bent and two other teens were charged with second-degree attempted murder, which carries a prison sentence of as many as 30 years.



Denver ‘D.C.’ Jarvis, 17, and 18-year-old Jesus Mendez pleaded no contest earlier and were sentenced to eight and 11 years behind bars, respectively.

Bent faces a maximum term of 15 years at his sentencing hearing on July 23. His lawyers said they plan to file an appeal.

Bent initially intended to plead no contest as well, but backed out at the last minute and opted for trial. His attorneys insisted he was not the instigator of the attack and never intended to hurt Mr Brewer.



Prosecutors had urged jurors not to let Bent sidestep guilt because he had others carry out the attack.



‘Don't let him get away with letting other people do his dirty work for him,’ Assistant State Attorney Maria Schneider said of the defendant during closing arguments Monday.

