It wasn't gas, says pharmacy robber

Mitchell’s apology was directed at Manuel dos Reis, the pharmacist at Medicine Shoppe who was caught unawares outside his Great Northern Road business early one April morning two years ago and soaked with what he believed to be gasoline.

“Let me in, or I’ll light you up,” the Crown says dos Reis was told by his assailant, who came up from behind clad in a surgical mask and carrying what the pharmacist believed to be a gun.

Mitchell pleaded guilty last week to two charges stemming from the April 18, 2013 theft: robbery and having his face masked while intending to commit an indictable offence.

Asked if he had anything to say during his sentencing this morning, Mitchell said “I’d just like to apologize to Manuel, but he’s not here.”

Mitchell, 45, who told the judge that he did not know the pharmacist, also told the court that the liquid in question was "just water."

“I had gasoline on my gloves,” Mitchell said.

Ontario Court Justice Robert Villeneuve interjected.

“(dos Reis) was certainly entitled to think there was a very real possibility he would be set ablaze,” said Villeneuve.

The five-year-sentence - minus 14 months credit for time already served - was a joint submission by Crown and defence.

Villeneuve said he would accept the sentence.

The judge pointed to the need for a deterrent in cases like this one, during which a mask was warn, and which involved the theft of 20 boxes of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

“I’m sure you’ve read or heard about how dangerous these (patches) are,” Villeneuve told Mitchell.

“People are dying every day from the misuse of these fentanyl patches,” the judge told him.

Crown prosecutor Dana Peterson described the robbery as “truly terrifying.”

The court heard last week during Mitchell’s plea that the heist was captured on two video cameras at the pharmacy.

A customer who witnessed the robbery told police he saw the pharmacist at the door with the man behind him and he appeared to have a weapon pointed at the store owner’s head, the court heard.

The witness, who was in his mid-60s, ran after the assailant but stopped when he was told, “Back off or I’ll shoot you.”

Mitchell’s lawyer, Eric McCooeye, acknowledged the offence was serious, but he noted Mitchell is working hard to turn his life around and is not a “lost cause.”

The sentencing hearing was delayed, with the judge’s permission, while Mitchell attended an appointment at a nearby methadone clinic.

McCooeye also said Mitchell has taken his treatment seriously, and is making an effort to be employed when he has served his sentence.

His current employer, Purvis Marine Limited, describes Mitchell as “a good employee,” said McCooeye.

Mitchell had been out on bail “without any incident whatsoever,” and required to live on a boat as part of his release conditions.

“He understands the severity of the punishment . . . but he has also set out for himself a life when he returns,” said McCooeye.

As part of his sentence, Mitchell also received a lifetime firearms ban and must have a DNA sample taken to be kept on record.

Previous SooToday coverage of this story:

Man pleads guilty to masked fentanyl heist

(PHOTO: Christopher Mitchell is shown in this photo released by police in 2013)