"Masked Bandit" Teens to Stand Trial

In the weeks leading up to Halloween last year, Hillary Clinton, a skeleton, a hockey player and a gorilla approached a lonely clerk at a 7-Eleven and proceeded to rob the cash register. 

of robberies conducted by a team of "masked bandits," as they later became known. Now, the teens being accused of the crimes, all of whom were under 18 when the robberies took place, face 15 felony charges — including assault with a firearm — and will stand trial as adults. 

The teenagers include 18-year-olds Armond Booth, Jereme Lavergne and Phillip Reed, and 17-year-olds Terrance Wheeler and Jerome Wade. Although not all of the suspects were directly involved in the robberies, they were held on conspiracy charges. 

Two Pleasant Hill 7-Elevens, a Concord 7-Eleven, an Antioch FoodMaxx, and a Walnut Creek Valero station were targeted by the "masked bandits" between Sept. 12 and Nov. 2, 2011. Two of the robberies involved the firing of a semi-automatic handgun. 

The defendants are scheduled to appear at court in Martinez on July 30 for arraignment. A trial date is pending.