A Gary man may avoid prison after admitting to lower charges in a rape case.
Armand “Mando” Hickerson, 25, pleaded guilty in a plea deal July 6 to two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Court records indicate he admitted giving alcohol and psychedelic mushrooms to a couple of teenagers at a house party.
If a judge accepts the deal, the terms call for a three-year sentence to be served in Lake County Community Corrections, i.e. day reporting or work release, if he is screened and accepted.
A sentencing hearing is on Aug. 11 before Judge Salvador Vasquez.
Court records originally allege he raped a 15-year-old girl.
The girl told police she went to a house party July 26, 2021 on the 300 block of South Henry Street in Gary with her best friend and the other girl’s boyfriend.
There, Hickerson started pouring Irish whiskey shots, then gave them “shrooms,” the girl said. The trio “started ‘tripping’ pretty hard,” documents state.
She tried to stay near her friend, but passed out at some point and woke up to Hickerson forcing her to perform a sex act, charges state. She couldn’t move or breathe, she told police.
She woke up again lying on her side, partially undressed and was “completely paralyzed,” charges state. Hickerson came back into the room and raped her, the affidavit alleges.
