Boy Charged as an Adult for Allegedly Robbing Classmate at Gunpoint

Mount Pleasant police say a 16-year-old boy robbed a classmate at gunpoint while they walked to a nearby restaurant from Case High School.

Garrit Schlenz, of Mount Pleasant, was charged as an adult Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count of felony theft, party to a crime and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, use of a dangerous weapon. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years, three months in prison and/or up to $26,000 in fines.

Schlenz was also charged with five misdemeanor counts of retail theft, party to a crime and one misdemeanor count of battery. If convicted of these charges, he faces up to 4-1/2 years in prison and/or up to $60,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint about the armed robbery, a boy and his mother called police on May 20 to report the boy being robbed at gunpoint by Schlenz. The boy said he and three other teens – including Schlenz – were walking to Burger King on Washington Avenue from Case High School and talking about how much money each of them had.

Police say the boy didn’t think much of the conversation until Schlenz punched him in the face. Two boys – including the victim – took off running but Schlenz and the fourth kid caught up to them behind the Summit Restaurant. Schlenz pulled a gun from his waistband and demanded the boy give him his money, saying, “Today’s your lucky day; I’m going to let you live.”

The boy gave Schlenz his money and ran back to school, the complaint reads.

Schlenz is also accused of stealing a variety of over-the-counter medications with three other boys over several weeks in March and April from Pick ‘n Save, 2820 S. Green Bay Road. During one incident, store personnel attempted to stop the group and Schlenz executed what security called a “karate chop” to the employee’s arm.

The defendant remains in the Racine County Jail on two, $5,000 cash bonds assigned during his initial appearances on all charges. Schlenz will next be in court June 17 for his preliminary hearing on the armed robbery charge and July 9 for a pre-trial conference on the misdemeanor theft charges.