Pensacola, Fla. ? Two boys accused of bludgeoning their father to death with a baseball bat pleaded guilty to reduced charges and got up to eight years in prison Thursday after a judge threw out their convictions and spared them a much harsher sentence.

In strong, clear voices, Derek King, 14, and his brother, Alex, 13, admitted to third-degree murder as well as arson, for burning down the house around their father’s body last year.

Derek was sentenced to eight years in prison, Alex seven ” well below the 12 1/2-year minimum specified under state guidelines.

The case drew widespread attention in part because prosecutors presented evidence at one trial that an adult friend was the killer and told another jury the boys did it.

A month ago, Circuit Judge Frank Bell tossed out the boys’ second-degree murder convictions, saying the brothers’ rights were violated by the “unusual and bizarre” way prosecutors simultaneously presented two contradictory theories of the crime. He ordered both sides to try to resolve the case in mediation.

The brothers were facing prison terms of 20 years to life before the convictions were thrown out.

The boys’ mother, Kelly Marino ” who has not lived with them for several years ” made a last-ditch effort to have them examined by mental health experts before they pleaded guilty, but the judge said the request had no standing.

The boys told the judge they understood what they were doing.

Outside court, Marino denounced the plea bargain and said her sons had no idea what they were admitting to.

“We do plan to challenge this,” Marino said, shaking her head in disbelief.