Teen Pleads Guilty In Elderly Man's Beating Death Posted On FB

(STMW) -- One of three teens accused of fatally beating a 62-year-old man in a 2012 attack that was recorded and posted to Facebook was sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday.

Nicholas Ayala, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery for the attack in the 6300 block of North Artesian Avenue that killed Delfino Mora, the Cook County State's Attorney's office said.

Cook County Judge Joseph Claps sentenced Ayala to 20 years in prison for the murder, and seven years in prison for robbery, a statement from prosecutors said. Ayala, of the 6300 block of North Talman Avenue, must serve the sentences consecutively.

Ayala and co-defendant Anthony Malcolm used a cell phone to record video of a third teen, allegedly Malik Jones, punching Mora in the face in a West Rogers Park alley on July 10, 2012, officials said.

The teens were playing a game called "Pick 'em out and knock 'em down," which Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Terry Clancy described in court as a "game where the offender picks an innocent victim and knocks him out by striking him and likely robbing him as well."

Mora, a father of 12, was collecting empty cans when he was attacked about 5 a.m., the Sun-Times reported at the time. Mora, who lived in the 6000 block of North Washtenaw, fell and hit the back of his head on the concrete.

The teens left him lying bleeding on the pavement, and Jones and Ayala allegedly returned to take money from his wallet, prosecutors said.

Mora was found unconscious three hours later and taken to a hospital, where he died the next day, authorities said.

The teens were arrested after the video was posted to Jones' Facebook page. Authorities also found the recording on his cell phone, prosecutors said.

Malcolm, 20, of the 5500 block of North Broadway, was convicted of first-degree murder and robbery, and is serving a 30-year prison sentence.

Jones, now 18, of the of the 2400 block of West Thorndale, is awaiting trial, authorities said. He is next scheduled to appear in court March 10.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)