.jpg)
Freddie Lee Giddens Jr. of Palm Coast was sentenced in July to 30 years in prison for a brutal prescription drug robbery of an Ormond Beach pharmacy the previous September. The minimum-mandatory of 25 years handed down will keep him behind bars until the age of 57. DAYTONA BEACH -- A 32-year-old Palm Coast man convicted at trial in May of sticking a gun in the face of a pharmacy tech in Ormond Beach for painkillers and other prescription drugs was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but the sentence includes a minimum day-to-day 25 years of incarceration.
Circuit Judge Frank Marriott adjudicated Freddie Lee GiddensJr., on charges of robbery with a firearm, kidnapping, trafficking drugs and possession of a firearm by a felony and imposed a $500,000 fine. Marriott called the robbery "senseless and brutal."
The tough sentence comes in at No. 73 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 stories of 2012.
Giddens and two others robbed the Ormond Beach Pharmacy, 500 W. Granada Blvd., on Sept. 6, 2011, putting a gun to the head of pharmacy tech at gun point and demanding "roxies." A surveillance video showed they jumped over the counter to prevent their victims from escaping before forcing them to the ground.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza said the violent crime terrified the pharmacy tech so much that she quit her job the day of the robbery.
"The brutal crime terrorized the victims that day when Giddens and his partners duck taped them, held a gun to the back of their heads, and stole the victims' wallet and purse," Larizza said. "The pharmacy tech testified at sentencing that since the robbery, she suffers from panic attacks and has a hard time going to public places. The violent robbery has forever changed her life."
The victim told the Judge she will never return as a pharmacy tech at a retail store again.
Top 100 Countdown Recap:
74. Edgewater police chief relieved accused killer who dumped bodies here captured
75. Port Orange man dies in fire; blaze contained to victim's apartment
76. Santa brings toys for tots to NSB via train
77. Ocassional NSB resident Johnny Damon signs with Cleveland Indians
78. NSBHS students of driving age learn importance of organ donation
79. Edgewater man killed after being struck by train while throwing rocks at it
80. County Council breaks bread with Daytona Area Chamber of Commerce
81. Body of 55-year-old DeBary man found in charred remains of home
82. Crossdresser rebuffed in trying to rob Deltona pharmacy of pills
83. Deltona pit bull 'Snoopy' back home
84. Ormond Beach cops: Man driving upwards of 150 mph in Lamborghini killed on US 1
85. NSB cops: Motorist arrested on fourth DUI charge
86. Postal truck becomes engulfed in flames in Edgewater, but mail salvaged
87. New Smyrna Beach Finance Dept. wins national award
88. Sad irony: Elderly man drowns in river named for death
89. NSB Fire Chief Dave McAllister among community award winners by Volusia League of Cities
90. Unlicensed 17-year-old Orange City boy runs over and kills 84-year-old woman in Deltona shopping plaza
91. NSB City Clerk Johnny Bledsoe gets new contract; 20 weeks compensation if canned
92. Votran bus operator drives 2 million miles on Volusia County roads without an accident
93. Jason McGuirk gets Jim Hathaway's seat on NSB commission
94. Holly Hill woman calls in bomb threat at work forcing evacuation of 300; tells cops she was bored
95. Sheriff holds open house in Oak Hill six months after taking over law enforcement duties
96. Audio: Cop pursuit in New Smyrna Beach with speeds clocked at 100 mph-plus ends with stop sticks
97. Ponce Inlet Councilman Joseph Perrone holds onto his seat by one vote
98. Edgewater's Tia McDonald featured in book while visiting Australia
100. Chip Ganassi cars finish 1-2 in Rolex at Daytona
