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Another teen pleads guilty in death of homeless man

A third teenager pleaded guilty today to beating a homeless man to death last summer as he slept on a park bench in Camden.

A third teenager pleaded guilty today to beating a homeless man to death last summer as he slept on a park bench in Camden.

Jordan Pabon, 16, of Pennsauken, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Camden to aggravated manslaughter in the death of John Anthony Smith, 54.

Two others, James Monroe, 18, of Pennsauken, and a 16-year-old from Camden, have already admitted taking part in the killing. Mark Hopkins, 15, of Pennsauken, is awaiting trial in Superior Court.

Authorities say the four teens came upon Smith as he slept in a park of Federal Street in August 2007, and that they decided on a whim to punch, kick and beat him with a pipe. Smith died from his injuries 18 days later at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

Pabon is expected to be sentenced next month.