Teen gets prison time in store robbery

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Kevin Sargent Submitted photo

HANCOCK COUNTY — Despite emotional pleas from his parents and uncle, an Indianapolis teenager will spend at least some time prison due to his involvement in a robbery last summer.     

Kevin Sargent, 19, Indianapolis, was sentenced to a four-year term in prison with two of those years suspended after he pleaded guilty to a lesser Level 5 felony charge of robbery. Hancock County Circuit Court Judge Scott Sirk handed down the sentence on Tuesday, Dec. 10.  

Sargent, who was 18 at the time of the crime, was the driver and one of four teenagers accused of robbing a convenience store in McCordsville in early May. The teenagers are also being investigated in connection with two other similar robberies on the same day in nearby Cumberland and Lawrence, court records show.   

The teens were taken into custody May 5 and charged with the armed robbery of the Village Pantry, 5964 West Broadway, McCordsville. The other teens involved, three juveniles, ages 15 and 16 at the time, have already been punished for their crime through juvenile court. 

A day before Sargent turned 19, Sirk listened to testimony from his parents, who said their son was a good kid, a solid student and had never been in trouble before. The judge also heard tearful testimony from the young man’s uncle begging the court for leniency. 

"I hope and pray he has learned from this," Terry Robinson said while wiping away tears. "This whole thing was a surprise to everyone for him to get caught up in." 

Sargent’s attorney, Corey Scott, Indianapolis, told the judge his client was the only teenager to cooperate fully with police, and that his client admitted his guilt and felt truly remorseful.

"This has been a very teachable moment for him," Scott said. "We’re asking the judge to give him a chance." 

The prosecution was led by chief deputy prosecutor Marie Castetter, who asked the court for the four-year sentence. She noted, however, that Sargent was the only one to cooperate fully with the investigation, and she told the judge the guns used in the crime where found in the back seat of the vehicle, not with the driver, Sargent. 

Still, Sirk was not fully convinced and asked the defendant several poignant questions about his behavior to see if Sargent’s words in a letter he had written to the judge were sincere.  

Upon hearing Sargent’s own words about his habits, future goals and what he was most sorry for, Sirk said the young man was not as remorseful or thoughtful as his family and lawyer indicated.

"In talking to you, I’m afraid you may have pulled the wool over the eyes of your attorney and your family, and I don’t like that," Sirk said.  

Sirk was also disappointed he said, when Sargent mentioned he was praying for the judge in making his decision, but didn’t once mention the victim, who had been threatened at gunpoint. 

"In your letter to me, you said you were dragged into this," Sirk said. "I want you to take responsibility."     

Sargent, who has been in jail since May, will end up spending less than a year in prison if he gets any type of good-behavior time credited.

A Level 6 felony charge of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and a Class A misdemeanor were dismissed as part of the plea, which dropped the original Level 3 felony charge of armed robbery to the Level 5 felony.