PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Jurors who tried two baby-faced boys on charges of killing their father with a baseball bat were aghast to learn that another panel had acquitted an adult accused in the case. But their conclusion that the boys only helped and didn't swing the bat stunned the prosecutor who presented both cases.

Alex and Derek King, ages 13 and 14, were spared a life term when a jury found them guilty Friday of second-degree murder without a weapon.

The boys face 22 years to life without parole, but the judge is free to go below the minimum at sentencing Oct. 17.

Their convictions have rekindled talk about changing a Florida law that allowed them to be tried as adults.

In a separate trial, convicted child molester Ricky Chavis, 40, was accused of committing the crime by himself. He was acquitted and the verdict was sealed until after the boys' trial.

Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer, who prosecuted both trials, said he thought the panel in the boys' case had ignored the allegation they wielded the bat and simply gave the boys a "jury pardon" by convicting them of the lesser offense.

The jury forewoman said that wasn't the case, that the panel believed neither boy swung the bat but rather that Chavis carried out the slaying. The jurors did not know that Chavis already had been acquitted in his separate trial.

Their decision to convict the boys of second-degree murder was based on their belief that Alex and Derek opened the door to let the killer into the house, forewoman Lynn Schwarz said.