Two adults, teen charged in La Salle robbery

Two men and a teenager were charged Thursday with felonies after an investigation into an alleged robbery in La Salle, during which knives were brandished.

Tyler J. Briddick, 23, of Peru, and Ethan B. Martin, 24, of La Salle, were charged with robbery, a Class 2 felony carrying 3-7 years in prison. Briddick, who is eligible for an extended term up to 14 years, was ordered held on $100,000 bond. Martin was ordered held on $50,000 bond.

Details still are emerging, but the investigation was launched Tuesday night following unlawful entry into a residence in the 500 block of Gooding Street. There, Briddick and a teen allegedly seized a cellular telephone from the resident — prosecutors said knives were brandished — while Martin kept lookout.

The teen charged in the Gooding Street robbery is a 17-year-old Spring Valley man who faces an additional felony charge for allegedly robbing a pedestrian at knifepoint in the 500 block of First Street.

There, a 62-year-old said he was confronted outside a tavern by a knife-wielding youth who threatened to slash his face unless he emptied his pockets. The man complied and was uninjured.

The teen was ordered held La Salle County Detention home while his case is pending in juvenile court. He also faces felony charges; but juvenile offenders are subject to diverse sentencing options if found to have committed felony offenses.

Trial dates are pending. Briddick is assigned to Circuit Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia. Martin is before Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.