MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Three young robbery suspects will likely spend time in juvenile lockup, but their case was kept out of adult court because the victim asked.

Monroe Davis told a Shelby County Juvenile Court judge he didn't want the teens sent to adult court, even though he feared for his life when 1 of them - just 13 at the time - stuck a gun in his face and demanded money.

At a Wednesday hearing, where prosecutors argued the case should be treated as an adult crime, Davis told the court the boys - now ages 14, 15 and 16 - might come out worse than when they went in.

The youngest among them had only a previous citation for possession of brass knuckles. Both older boys had criminal histories involving guns.

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

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