Boy set on fire by friend is recovering

Two 11-year-old Newark boys who are distant cousins also are the best of friends, family members say, so why one set the other on fire is baffling.

Steven Michael Tice suffered second-degree burns on his back after Charlie Martin spritzed him with perfume, flicked a lighter and set him on fire on Monday around 4:30 p.m.

Steven was resting in bed before he was to play in a baseball game at 6 p.m., and had just turned down Charlie’s invitation to play with him when he was attacked. Steven’s 15-year-old sister grabbed a pillow and beat out the flames, Steven’s grandmother and mother said Friday.

Steven was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for treatment, according to Newark police. He was released Tuesday, but he continues to receive outpatient treatment at the hospital for his burns.

“He’s been a really big trouper through this,” said Steven’s grandmother, Penny Swonger. “He’s doing fairly well. He said, ‘Why didn’t Charlie say he was sorry or help me?’ They were best friends.”

Charlie “obviously needs help,” said Steven’s mother, Amanda Tice.

Charlie’s mother, Misty Martin, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Charlie has been charged in Licking County Probate-Juvenile Court with delinquency counts of aggravated arson and felonious assault, which are firstdegree and second-degree felonies, respectively, if filed in adult court.

On Wednesday, he entered denials, the juvenile-court version of not guilty pleas. He is being held at the MultiCounty Juvenile Detention Center in Lancaster pending a pre-trial hearing scheduled for June 30, court records show.