The gunman in a Feb. 21 armed robbery of an Arby’s Restaurant that initially was suspected of being linked to the Palatine mass murders pleaded guilty Monday in McHenry County Circuit Court.
Michael A. Spearman, 23, of Woodstock, pleaded guilty before Judge Henry Cowlin to armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint, and will be sentenced Jan. 10.
Michael P. Kittle, 22, of unincorporated Woodstock, driver of the getaway car, pleaded guilty last week to armed robbery and conspiracy and will be sentenced Jan. 6. Both men face sentences of 6 to 30 years.
Spearman was charged with entering the restaurant at 6000 Northwest Hwy., pulling a 9 mm automatic on four teenage employees, herding them into a cooler and taking $1,400. He and Kittle were arrested March 13.
Even though the holdups were unrelated, the task force investigating the Palatine murders got a tip that helped Crystal Lake police trace the Arby’s crime to Spearman and Kittle.