St. Charles man pleads guilty to armed robbery

The last of four St. Charles residents accused of robbing a 17-year-old at a local park was sentenced Thursday to jail and probation.

Herman Little, 24, of the 100 block of South Third Street, pleaded guilty in Kane County court to a reduced charge of robbery, a Class 2 felony. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 36 months of probation, according to an agreement with prosecutors.

Little was one of four people accused of holding up a boy at Mount St. Mary Park, 700 Geneva Road, in April 2009.

Assistant Kane County State's Attorney Pam Monaco said the victim gave Little and two co-defendants his cell phone and about $15 cash after they threatened him with a tire iron. A fourth co-defendant kept watch from a stolen car.

The robbery took place after the defendants saw the victim skateboarding at Mount St. Mary's skate park, she said.

"It was allegedly part of a gang initiation," Monaco said.

According to court documents, Little and his co-defendants all lived at the same address. They were arrested within two hours of the robbery, and just a few blocks away, after police found the getaway vehicle.

Monaco said the group's ringleader, Christopher S. King, 20, was sentenced last month to six years in prison with a recommendation for boot camp after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated robbery.

Alexander S. Cichon, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced in August to five years in prison, also with a recommendation for boot camp.

The alleged lookout, Candice N. Gard, 23, pleaded guilty to burglary in July and was sentenced to 48 months probation and 82 days in jail.

Monaco said Little had no prior convictions.