A Tampa man convicted of first-degree arson and nine counts of attempted second-degree murder will spend life behind bars, a judge ruled Monday.

Lee Circuit Judge Robert Branning sentenced Ulysses Rivera III, 43, to life in prison.

Jurors on Jan. 25 convicted Ulysses Rivera for his role in a Dec. 31, 2022, Bonita Springs blaze. He was one of two charged, along with his uncle, Orlando Rivera, who died prior to trial.

Authorities said Ulysses Rivera broke into a Bonita Springs home, threatened his tenants, and then set the home on fire. The jury returned the verdict after a four-day trial.

Around 11 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022, Ulysses Rivera arrived at the home he rented out and used a knife to pry open a door before he took money from the residents and left.

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He returned shortly after and kicked the door down.

Authorities said Ulysses Rivera was carrying a gas can and poured gas all over the house. The gas was lit, causing a loud explosion. He fled out the front door, closing it, trapping the occupants inside.

Authorities some of the residents were sleeping until they heard the boom, while others were awakened by the smell of smoke or fellow roommates waking them. Everyone climbed out bedroom windows.

One of the victims suffered burns over his body as the blaze came under the door of his bedroom, while others suffered moderate burns in the fire.

First responders assisted the victims and extinguished the flames before authorities found Ulysses Rivera at a nearby home and executed a search warrant.

Ulysses Rivera admitted frequenting the house and demanding money from the occupants so he could buy beer and cigarettes.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Tampa man gets life for 2022 fire, 9 counts of attempted murder