Following their arrests in September, two young Bronx men with lengthy criminal records now face up to 25 years in prison for allegedly shooting Norwood resident Michael Santiago, who is now paralyzed.

The defendants, Michael Crespo, 22, of 1785 Story Ave. in Soundview, and Will Dunbar, 20, of 80 E. 210th St. in Norwood, were each charged with 10 shooting-related crimes, the most serious being attempted murder.

Police said both had a history of serious criminal behavior.

Both remain in jail awaiting trial. Bail for Dunbar is set at $500,000, while Crespo’s bail is set at $100,000.

Steven Reed, of the Bronx District Attorney’s office, said one factor in Dunbar’s higher bail amount was that, although the two acted in concert, they each played different roles. Dunbar allegedly fired the gun, while Crespo allegedly drove the car.

Court documents paint the incident as a classic drive-by shooting.

Records indicate that on Sept. 14, at 9:40 p.m., Crespo was driving a car on Gates Place, in the troubled Knox-Gates section of Norwood. The car contained four other individuals, including Dunbar, records say. The other three people in the car have not been apprehended.

When the group spotted Santiago, 17 years old at the time, Dunbar pulled out a gun, documents say. Santiago started running, but fell to the ground after taking a bullet to his back. The bullet remains wedged near his spine because doctors feared its removal would cause further damage, according to a family friend.

Dunbar and Crespo were arrested and charged by the Bronx District Attorney’s office on Oct. 24.

In a seemingly unrelated incident in July, the pair was arrested on gun possession charges. After prosecutors alleged the gun was Dunbar’s, charges against Crespo were dropped. Dunbar was out on bail at the time of the Santiago shooting.

In the gun possession case, Dunbar faces four charges, including resisting arrest after he allegedly kicked and punched a police officer.

Crespo goes to court on Dec. 17, while Dunbar must wait until Jan. 8, 2008.

Charges against Santiago, who was allegedly found with ammunition and drugs on his person when he was shot, have been dropped. The victim spent his 18th birthday in the hospital, recovering and adjusting to life without the use of his legs. He told friends and relatives that he wanted no retaliation against the shooters.