Published: April 07, 2009 02:01 pm      

Teen charged with robbing juveniles in front of New Albany High School

Suspect recently released on attempted-robbery charge

A warrant has been issued for a Greenville teenager charged with robbing a group of juveniles who were sitting on a bench in front of New Albany High School last month.

Stephen B. Kennedy Jr., 18, was charged Monday with three counts of class C felony robbery, three counts of class C felony attempted robbery and six counts of class A misdemeanor intimidation.

According to a probable-cause affidavit, six juveniles were sitting in front of the school March 18 when two males got out of a light-colored Volkswagen Jetta convertible and approached them. Kennedy then got out of the same vehicle and allegedly demanded their money and cell phones.

Three of the victims said they gave Kennedy a pack of gum, a sports drink and $6 in cash. The other three victims said they had no money to give him.

Kennedy allegedly said if they told anyone that “bullets would be flying.” The victims said they did not report the incident at first for fear of their safety. At least four of the victims are students at Hazelwood Middle School.

According to the affidavit, Kennedy admitted to police that he took the sports drink and cash. The court had no record of charges against the other two males with the suspect.

Kennedy was charged March 25 with class C felony attempted robbery after he had a gun pulled on him in the area of Riverside Drive in New Albany. A police report states that Kennedy allegedly told a man to “empty his pockets.” The victim then pulled out a gun. When police arrived, Kennedy said he was the one who had been robbed.

Bond was set at $50,000 court-cash in that case in Floyd County Superior Court No. 1. According to corrections officers, Kennedy had posted the $5,000 required for release and was not incarcerated as of Monday evening. His next court hearing was scheduled for April 21 with a jury trial scheduled for Aug. 10.