Palm Coast man guilty in Ormond Beach pharmacy robbery

Freddie L. Giddens Jr.

Kenneth L. Jenkins

Thavelian P. Watson

DAYTONA BEACH -- A jury deliberated for about an hour before finding a Palm Coast man guilty of robbing an Ormond Beach pharmacy and holding a pharmacist and pharmacy tech at gunpoint before duct-taping them.

Freddie Lee Giddens Jr., 32, is guilty of robbery with a firearm, kidnapping, trafficking in drugs, and possession of firearm by a convicted felon, the jury found Thursday night, after a two-day trial before Circuit Judge Frank Marriott.

Giddens faces a minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison at sentencing. No date has been set for sentencing. Three men robbed the Ormond Pharmacy, 500 W. Granada Blvd., last Sept. 6, prosecutors said. Two others haven't been to trial yet.

"They jumped over (a) pharmacy counter to prevent their victims from escaping before forcing them to the ground with guns pointed to the back of their necks and then duct taped them," State Attorney R.J. Larizza said. "In addition to robbing the pharmacy of narcotic pills, they robbed the victims of their personal belongings. The violent robbery left the pharmacy tech so fearful and traumatized, she did not return to work at the pharmacy."

Kenneth L. Jenkins and Thavelian P. Watson, both of Bunnell, also are charged in the robbery, which led to a manhunt involving multiple agencies, K-9 units and a helicopter.

Both men are set to go to trial June 18, court records show.

Prosecutors and the victims said the men demanded oxycodone and Roxicodone during the robbery.

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Palm Coast man guilty in Ormond Beach pharmacy robbery