EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Two Granite City teens are facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder charges in the fatal beating of a homeless man for a can of beer.
Seventeen-year-old Joseph Lee Raines and 18-year-old Brandon Carol Bouck entered their pleas Thursday in Madison County court. In exchange, prosecutors dropped first-degree murder charges.
Assistant State's Attorney Susan Jensen says testimony would have shown the defendants told a friend about punching and kicking Thomas Muffler in October.
Jensen says Muffler had refused to buy the teens beer. After the beating, the teens stole a 24-ounce can of beer from Muffler.
Authorities say Muffler suffered broken ribs that penetrated a lung.
A sentencing date hasn't been scheduled.
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