ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A central Florida man has been convicted in the fatal beating of an elderly man who authorities say was mistaken for a sex offender.
 
An Orange County jury found 22-year-old Robert Pascale guilty Friday of first-degree murder.
 
Authorities say Pascale and his co-defendant, 34-year-old Michael Garay, beat 78-year-old Hugh Edwards to death with a Louisville Slugger in May 2010. According to testimony, the men mistakenly thought Edwards was a child molester.
 
The Orlando Sentinel (http://bit.ly/O3GZqJ) reports that Garay was convicted of murder in April and sentenced to life in prison.
 
Pascale's attorney argued that Garay committed most of the violence and performed the fatal blow. During Garay's trial, however, his defense attorney argued that Pascale killed Edwards, and Garay only acted in fear of Pascale.
 
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Information from: Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com

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