Four charged in St. Charles park robbery

Four St. Charles residents who stole a 17-year-old's money and cell phone were charged with armed robbery over the weekend, police said Monday.

The theft happened shortly after 7 p.m. Friday at Mount St. Mary Park, 700 Geneva Road, St. Charles. Police said three men, including one armed with a crowbar, confronted the teen at the skateboarding area of the park while a fourth person sat in a car parked nearby and acted as a lookout.

After robbing the boy of $15 and a cell phone, the foursome left and parked the vehicle several blocks from the crime scene, police said. Investigators began surveilling the vehicle after the victim provided a description. The four were arrested when they returned to it around 8:30 p.m.

Police identified the suspects as Christopher S. King, 19; Alexander S. Cichon, 18; Candice N. Gard, 22; and Herman Little, 23, all of the 100 block of South Third Street. They are charged with armed robbery, a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Police said additional felony charges of burglary and vehicle theft were filed against King, Cichon and Gard were filed after investigators searched their home and found an Acura Integra that was reported stolen parked outside.

St. Charles police spokesman Paul McCurtain declined to discuss a possible motive. He said the four friends live together and that additional charges are possible.

Bond was set Saturday at $450,000 for King, who is accused of wielding the crowbar, and $350,000 for Cichon and Little. Gard, the accused lookout, was being held on $25,000 bond. All remained in jail Monday afternoon.

All four are scheduled to appear in Kane County Circuit Court April 16.