The prosecution of five former students at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania who are accused of holding six other students at gunpoint with a broken handgun while they searched for marijuana appears to be reaching a climax.

The first of the five defendants was sentenced Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court, while two others pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon, who is prosecuting the case, has constructed a deal that will allow three of the defendants to serve lengthy paroles plus boot camp. The defendant who was least involved in the incident will face boot camp. The fifth defendant, a former Slippery Rock football player who is charged with carrying the gun used in the incident, will face a harsher sentence.

Joshua Burnette, 25, of Harrisburg, was sentenced by Judge William Shaffer Tuesday to 14 to 30 months, but the judge noted that he will be recommended for boot camp. Mr. Burnette pleaded guilty April 2 to single counts of robbery and false imprisonment.

Blane Jefferson, 19, of North Braddock, and Jacquay Hosey, 22, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty on Monday to the same charges. They are to be sentenced by Judge Shaffer on June 26.

The final two defendants, Daresse Henderson and Harold Tardy, are scheduled to stand trial June 16 before Judge Shaffer, unless plea agreements are reached.

Police said the group of students went to the Ivy Apartments in Slippery Rock Township, near the university, about 2:30 a.m. Dec. 4 looking for marijuana.

They left the apartment with a small amount of the drug plus some DVDs, a video game and wireless controllers.