McHenry Co. teens charged with robbing man at knifepoint

A McHenry County judge set bond at $100,000 this morning for a pair of teenagers charged with robbing a man at knifepoint along a Crystal Lake street over the weekend.

Mazin Awwad, 17, of Lake in the Hills, and Deante B. Velasquez, 17, of Crystal Lake, each face charges of armed robbery, theft and mob action stemming from the stickup about 3 a.m. Saturday near Union and College streets.

Velasquez also is charged with aggravated battery, while Awwad faces an additional count of aggravated assault.

The victim, an 18-year-old man, was chosen at random as he walked near the intersection, police said.

"Apparently he, for whatever reason, was seen as an easy victim to them," Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Dennis Harris said.

The robbers, Harris said, showed him the victim a knife, pushed him to the ground and stole a mobile phone and a backpack containing an undisclosed amount of cash and other personal items before running away.

Officers arrested Awwad and Velasquez about seven hours later after the victim by chance spotted them near a shopping center and called police.

"It was good luck for the victim and bad luck for Mr. Velasquez and Mr. Awwad," Harris said.

Both suspects were taken to the McHenry County jail, where they spent the rest of the weekend without bond pending this morning's court appearance.

If found guilty of the armed robbery charges, Velasquez and Awwad would face a sentence between six and 30 years in prison.