Stanley Baldwin was found guilty of willful injury Tuesday morning in the beating death of Burlington resident Eddie Breuer.
Baldwin, one of four people police say were involved in the March 2019 beating death of Burlington resident Edward "Eddie" Breuer, faces up to 10 years in prison. His trial began last week at the Van Buren County Courthouse in Keosauqua.
Baldwin denied involvement in the crime and decided to represent himself, dismissing his publicly appointed defense attorney last year. Baldwin petitioned to have the proceedings moved out of Burlington so he could get a fair trial, given how well known Breuer in the city.
Majestic Malone and Markell Price, both of Burlington, were convicted in August of second-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Breuer.
Known for his geniality and tendency to ask strangers for spare change to buy a soda, Breuer was a couch-crasher and constant face around Burlington. He was found beaten outside an apartment building on 404 Acres St. on the evening of March 17, shortly after visiting a friend on the first floor.
Owen Laird, who was 15 at the time of the beating, testified against Price and Malone in August, and also talked about Baldwin’s alleged role. Laird testified to seeing Baldwin break Breuer’s finger in the alley with a large, red pipe.
Baldwin could not be called as a witness since it would have impacted his own trial.
Laird was moving into the upstairs apartment at 404 Acres St. at the time of the beating, and Baldwin, who was a friend of Laird’s, allegedly found Breuer inside the apartment. Laird’s high school friend, who drove him to 404 Acres St., testified Laird was visibly agitated and struck Breuer several times.
Laird himself testified to hitting Breuer and admitted to murdering Breuer when police arrived. He later recanted that admission and the prosecution believed Baldwin convinced Laird to take the fall and call the police.
A sentencing hearing is expected to be held in the next few weeks.