Pharmacy Robber Pleads Guilty

By Sam Thrift Thursday, September 08, 2011

Christopher Hamilton pleaded guilty in a Williamsburg and James City County courtroom Wednesday for two armed robberies in April at area pharmacies.

Hamilton, of Raleigh Street in the city, was charged with two counts of robbery, four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, evading and eluding police and two counts of abduction with the intent to export money for the robbery of the Rite Aid Pharmacy on April 18 and the Olde Towne Pharmacy on April 26.

Police said the 29 year-old entered the Olde Towne Pharmacy off Longhill Road near Route 199 and ordered the pharmacist to give him OxyContin, a powerful narcotic pain reliever, while holding three other employees at gunpoint.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect fleeing from the pharmacy parking lot in a silver Jeep headed on Olde Towne Road toward Richmond Road.

Police spotted the vehicle, and Hamilton was taken into custody without incident. A fully loaded, .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.

A James City Police spokesman said Hamilton had swallowed some of the stolen prescription drugs during the pursuit. He was taken to Williamsburg Sentara Hospital for treatment.

Hamilton was also charged for an armed robbery that occurred a week earlier at the Rite Aid Pharmacy in the 1300 block of Jamestown Road.

Hamilton will be sentenced Nov. 9.