Talk about kicking a man when he’s down. Two teens in Granite City, Illinois, have pleaded guilty to fatally beating a homeless man after he refused to buy them 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.