Burlington County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison on Murder Charges

A Pemberton man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a man in 2013 and then dumping his body in the Pine Barrens, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced.

Brandon Dixon, 29, of Navajo Trail in Pemberton Township, was convicted by a jury in April on charges of felony murder, robbery and desecration of human remains for the death of 23-year-old Charles Bauer, of Pemberton Township, in January of 2013.

In New Jersey, 75 years is considered a life sentence. The sentence falls under the state’s No Early Release Act, which means Dixon must serve at least 85 percent of the time before being eligible for parole.

Dixon was convicted of luring Bauer to a home in Pemberton by sending him texts that appeared to be from his girlfriend. Dixon and 22-year-old Ryan Sweet, of Pemberton, intended to steal Bauer’s car.

“It wasn’t enough for this defendant to simply rob Charles Bauer,” Bernardi said. “He felt the need to kill him, and then discard his body on a frozen cranberry bog in an attempt to conceal the murder. It was senseless and it was depraved, and he deserves every day of the life sentence imposed by the judge.”

Sweet was sentenced in May to 17 years in state prison for aggravated manslaughter in connection with Bauer’s death.

Three other people who helped Dixon and Sweet but were not involved in Bauer’s death have been sentenced for desecration of human remains and/or hindering apprehension.

The attached image of Brandon Dixon was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office