Crystal Lake man heading to boot camp for robbery

A Crystal Lake man is heading to a state prison boot camp after admitting Tuesday he and a teenage friend robbed a man at knifepoint on a Crystal Lake street last year.

Deante B. Velasquez, 18, of the 7500 block of Redwood Street, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery as part of a deal in which he was sentenced to six years in prison, but received a recommendation to instead be admitted into the four- to six-month Impact Incarceration program.

The deal came as McHenry County prosecutors and Velasquez's attorney were about halfway through jury selection in his trial on charges of armed robbery, aggravated battery, mob action and theft.

Philip Hiscock, criminal division chief for the McHenry County State's Attorney, said he extended the offer when the robbery victim did not show up for a ride to the courthouse Tuesday morning and could not be found.

"We faced the possibility of having to go to trial without our victim," he said.

The charges stemmed from an incident in the early morning hours of April 11 when, authorities said, Velasquez and a co-defendant approached a man who walking home from work, showed him a knife, threw a punch at him and knocked him to the ground. The robbers took the man's cell phone and a backpack containing clothing before leaving, police said.

Co-defendant - accused knife-holder Mazin Awwad, 18, of Lake in the Hills, is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to be in court March 30 for a pretrial status hearing.