CLEVELAND -- It was an emotional afternoon at the Justice Center Monday as the man convicted of throwing a firecracker at Jacobs Field last summer was sentenced to hard time.

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Mendez Sentenced

NewsChannel5's Ted Hart reported that during the sentencing, Andrew Mendez (pictured, right) never wavered.

"I maintain my innocence, and though I stand here convicted, I ask for mercy," he said. "I'm not a threat."

But Judge Burt Griffin said there's no doubt in his mind that Mendez is guilty of throwing a commercial firework in the June 2002 blast that injured two people. One of those injured, Judy Knight, said she will never forget the incident.

"The sound of the explosion, the flash -- I thought I had caught fire," she said.

Griffin could have sentenced Mendez to community-controlled sanctions, such as a halfway house and electronic monitoring. But he said that Mendez needs to grow up and acknowledge what he has done, and sentenced Mendez to three years in prison.

The whole thing was too much for one of Mendez's family members, who cried out and collapsed in court.

Earlier this year, the cases against two co-defendants were dismissed. Prosecutor Ed Fitzgerald said they may be re-indicted, and Mendez could help himself along the way.

"Mr. Mendez has an opportunity to admit to what he's done and to talk about their involvement," Fitzgerald said.

But defense attorney Richard Lillie said that will not happen. He said the prison sentence serves no one in this case.

"He can't continue his studies, he can't make restitution," he said.

Lillie said they will appeal the conviction and the sentence.

Mendez was also ordered to make restitution to the victims after they submit itemized statements of their medical and related expenses.