7 teens accused in Freeport attacks

Seven teenagers have been arrested on charges they beat up and robbed two people they'd befriended near the Freeport train station, Nassau County police said.

Police said the attack happened at 2 a.m. Saturday when the would-be robbers engaged the victims -- a 19-year-old man and 20-year-old woman -- in conversation. The group went to look for a place to eat when the attack began, near Pine Street and Brookside Avenue, said police, who gave this account: The robbers threw the man to the ground, kicked him and punched him, as they took his cellphone; they hit the woman in the back of the head and took her iPhone.

A short time earlier one of the robbers had fondled the woman, according to police. Both victims were treated for minor injuries.

They both managed to escape, and the suspects were found a short time later on West Merrick Road, police said.

Six were arrested and charged as adults; the seventh was charged as a juvenile.

The suspects are: Jevaughn Smart, 17, of Central Avenue; Chad Jaggon, 17, of West Gate Drive; and Michael O'Brien, 16, of Hunter Avenue and the juvenile, all of Valley Stream; Christian Stephen-Haynes, 20, and Deandre Robinson, 17, both of South Bergen Place, and Richard Newton, 17, of Harris Avenue, all from Freeport.

Each suspect was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery. Additionally, Smart was charged with forcible touching. They were arraigned Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead Village; the juvenile robbery suspect was sent to Family Court. Bail amounts weren't immediately available.