ELIZABETHTOWN — The former Moriah man who admitted he held up the Hometown Pharmacy in Mineville is headed to state prison for 20 years.

He must also pay more than $12,000 in restitution.

Joseph J. Budwick, 36, of Elizabethtown appeared in Essex County Court Tuesday morning and was sentenced by Judge Richard Meyer to serve 20 years for felony first-degree robbery of the Hometown Pharmacy on April 5.

Budwick was sentenced to another two to four years for felony third-degree attempted burglary for breaking into the Willsboro Pharmacy on March 3.

The sentences are to be served concurrently. When Budwick gets out, he must serve five years of post-release supervision.

STOLE DRUGS

Willsboro Pharmacy owner James Bowen made a victim-impact statement to the court in which he described the devastating economic impact to small pharmacies when such crimes are committed.

At Willsboro, Budwick took more than 3,000 narcotic pills and tablets and 25 narcotic Fentanyl patches. The potential street value of the drugs exceeded $6,000.

He took bottles of codeine tablets and other narcotics at Hometown Pharmacy, attempting to swallow them even as neighbors tackled and subdued him after he ran out.

Meyer ordered Budwick to pay $7,900 in restitution to Willsboro Pharmacy and $4,000 to Hometown Pharmacy. He was also assessed surcharges and fees and must submit a DNA sample for the state database.

Orders of protection were issued for Bowen and Hometown Pharmacy owners Robert and Carol Corbo.

ATTACK AND CAPTURE

Police said Budwick entered Hometown Pharmacy at closing time and struck Mrs. Corbo in the face and put a plastic bag over the head of her pharmacist husband. The Corbos were treated afterward at Elizabethtown Community Hospital.