- December 15, 2025
After a two-day trial that began Wednesday, a jury deliberated for approximately an hour before finding 32-year-old Palm Coast man Freddie Giddens Jr. guilty as charged of robbery with a firearm, kidnapping, trafficking in drugs, and possession of firearm by an in-state convicted felon.
Giddens and two co-defendants robbed the pharmacist and pharmacy tech at gun point in September. They jumped over an Ormond Beach 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.
In addition to robbing the pharmacy of narcotic pills, they robbed the victims of their personal belongings.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza said, “The violent robbery left the pharmacy tech so fearful and traumatized, she did not return to work at the pharmacy.”
The case was tried by Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Larizza said Giddens faces a maximum sentence of life in prison with a 10-year minimum mandatory on the robbery count and 25 years' minimum mandatory on the drug count due to the weight of the drugs.
Giddens’ two co-defendants are scheduled to go to trial next month.
