Superior Court Judge Stephen Hedstrom sentenced Roy Hinkle Johns, 33, of Middletown to 12 years in prison for the robbery attempt on Aug. 17, according to a report from the District Attorney's Office.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff prosecuted the case, with Johns represented by defense attorney Thomas Quinn.

According to the investigation conducted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Johns entered the Middletown Pharmacy at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 and demanded Oxycontin from a female store employee. When the employee questioned Johns, he pulled out a small handgun and advised her that he was serious.

The employee fled to a back room calling for help. When other employees in the back room came to her aid, and tried to close the door for their protection, Johns attempted to push his way through the door while pointing the gun at them and yelling, “Don’t make me shoot you.”

The pharmacy owner and the employees were able to close the door, which was damaged during the incident, and Johns fled the store without the Oxycontin he had demanded.

A female customer in the store at the time reported Johns also pointed the gun at her while telling her not to move. While Johns was attempting to push his way through the door to get into the back room where the employees were, the female customer ran out of the store and called 911.

Johns was arrested the very next day, on Aug. 18, after employees at North Lake Medical Pharmacy's Sutter Lakeside store became suspicious when he came to the pharmacy and attempted to get an Oxycontin prescription filled.

He fled from the pharmacy but was discovered on the Sutter Lakeside grounds by Sheriff Rodney Mitchell, who arrested Johns at gunpoint.

The gun Johns used in the Middletown robbery attempt was not recovered, according to the investigation.

On Nov. 3 Johns pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and admitted an allegation that he personally used a firearm.

Johns faced a maximum potential prison term of 13 years, according to the District Attorney's Office.

At sentencing, the defense counsel asked Hedstrom to impose the lower term of five years, citing Johns' minimal criminal record and his claim that the gun was not loaded.

In addition the defense asked for leniencey saying that Johns – whose jail booking sheet lists his occupation as “disabled” – had become addicted to Oxycontin after suffering injuries in a vehicle accident.

Hinchcliff asked the court to impose the upper term, saying the armed robbery was preplanned, Johns engaged in violent threats and aggression toward the victims, and that he used a gun in committing the crime.

Hedstrom sentenced Johns to 12 years in prison, citing the aggravating circumstances argued by the prosecution.

In addition, Hedstrom ordered Johns to pay a $2,600 fine.

Because attempted robbery is classified as a violent crime, Johns will be required to serve 85 percent of the time imposed, rather than the usual 50 percent.

Johns, who has remained in county jail since his August arrest, will be eligible for parole in 2016.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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