The Burlington County Times reports the 23-year-old victim was robbed partly due to his communication with a 16-year-old girl.
MOUNT HOLLY -- A 28-year-old Pemberton Township man was convicted of murder and related charges Monday in connection with the 2013 killing of a 23-year-old man, according to the Burlington County Times.
The newspaper reports a jury found Brandon Dixon guilty of felony murder, desecration of human remains and robbery.
Prosecutors argued Dixon worked with another Pemberton Township man, Ryan Sweet, to rob Pemberton man Charles Bauer because Bauer was communicating with the 16-year-old mother of Sweet's child. Bauer's body was discovered in January of 2013, partially clothed on top of a frozen bog in Brendan Byrne State Forest by a family.
Testimony during Dixon's two-week trial revealed the intent behind the crime was to steal Bauer's Ford Mustang and marijuana to stop him from contacting the teen, but that Bauer died after Dixon had put him in a chokehold. Dixon was also accused of burning Bauer's clothes, but was found not guilty of arson.
Sweet previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and is expected to be sentenced to 17 years in prison this week, the newspaper reports.
Sweet and three other men also pleaded guilty to desecrating human remains for helping dispose of Bauer's body.
Dixon is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26 and could receive life in prison.
Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.