Teen gets probation in Gurnee armed robbery

A downstate teenager present at an armed robbery in Gurnee was sentenced Wednesday to juvenile probation.

Lamar Hicks, 17, of St. Anne near Kankakee, was charged as an adult in the case but qualified for juvenile sentencing because he was 16 when the crime occurred.

Hicks was a passenger in a pickup truck driven by Travis Flemming, 37, also of St. Anne, that stopped at Gurnee Mills on Nov. 30, 2007. Hicks and a second passenger in the truck, Kavin Spivey, 29, walked to the gas station at 6050 Grand Ave., and Spivey accosted a woman putting gas in her car.

Spivey grabbed the woman's wallet and fired two shots at a station clerk who chased him as he ran from the scene. No one was injured.

All three were arrested about a week after the crime, and Flemming and Hicks told police they had no idea Spivey planned to rob anyone.

Flemming and Hicks testified against Spivey at the September trial that resulted in Spivey being convicted of armed robbery, attempted murder, armed violence and vehicular invasion.

Hicks and Flemming pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of robbery and agreed to cooperate in Spivey's prosecution.

Flemming was sentenced to four years on probation Sept. 18, and Hicks will remain on probation until his 21st birthday.

Spivey faces up to 50 years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 2.

In addition, Spivey is charged with aggravated battery for attacking a jail officer shortly after the verdict in his trial was announced.