Repeat violent offender gets 40 years for aggravated robbery of Plano pharmacist

Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Ricky L. Johnson, 44, of Dallas, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after the jury found him guilty of Aggravated Robbery.

"Violent offenders who target innocent civilians serving our community will be brought to justice in this county," Willis said after sentencing.

On Oct. 12, 2019, Johnson walked into an independent pharmacy in Plano, Texas, and asked for a prescription. When the pharmacist was distracted, Johnson pulled out a screwdriver, grabbed the pharmacist by the hair, put the screwdriver to her neck, and demanded codeine.

The pharmacist initially refused, but eventually gave in when Johnson threatened to kill her. Johnson left the pharmacy with the majority of the codeine and all the cash in the register. Plano Police Department was dispatched to the pharmacy, and Officer Jason Moses and Officer David Hogan located and arrested Johnson not far from the pharmacy.

The jury found Johnson guilty of Aggravated Robbery, a first degree felony. During the punishment phase of trial, prosecutors introduced evidence of Johnson's prior convictions for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Assault Family Violence, Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Forgery, which included two prior prison sentences. These priors made his minimum punishment range 25 years. Judge Angela Tucker assessed punishment at 40 years in prison.

Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ann Mathew and Luke Calhoun prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Stephanie Strickland.