Man Who Robbed Pharmacies at Gunpoint Gets 22 Years

By Sam Thrift Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Christopher Shane Hamilton was sentenced to 22 years behind bars yesterday in Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court for the armed robbery of two Williamsburg pharmacies in April.

Hamilton’s sister told Judge Samuel T. Powell III that Hamilton, who is 30 and lived in Williamsburg, had gone through a “downward spiral” after their mother died of cancer, leading him to drug abuse and the “spur-of-the-moment decision out of desperation” to rob the Rite Aid Pharmacy on April 18 and the Olde Towne Pharmacy on April 26.

James City County Police said Hamilton 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.

Combined, Hamilton stole about $6,000 worth of drugs and money.

Hamilton pleaded guilty Sept. 7 to 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 extort money.

“You are truly walking through a dark shadow,” one victim said to Hamilton before sentencing. “I have forgiven you, and I ask for compassion and mercy from the court. But your weapon, a .40-caliber pistol, could have devastated so many lives.”

Hamilton told Judge Powell that he deserved prison, but hoped that the people he hurt could one day forgive him.

“My most important role is to make sure the people of the Commonwealth are safe,” Powell said before sentencing Hamilton.