Co-accused in Rexall robbery given 10 years

One of the two men accused in the robbery of the Rexall Drug Store in February 2011 was recently handed a 10-year jail sentence in Calgary Court of Queens Bench for his part in the crime.

Stanley Chad Cox was convicted on 45 charges, including robbery with a firearm, wearing a disguise with intent to commit a robbery, pointing a firearm and numerous other weapons charges as well as two counts of possession of a controlled substance on April 27. Nine of the charges related to the drugstore robbery while others related to other matters. The sentence was handed down May 18. Cox was also given a lifetime weapons prohibition.

“It's what I asked for. I had sought 10 to 12 years and he was given 10 years,” said Crown Counsel Richelle Freiheit, who argued the case from April 16 to 27.

Defence counsel Lorne Goddard asked for a sentence of between four-and-a-half and five-and-a-half years.

In her sentencing arguments, Freiheit outlined nine reasons for handing Cox, 48, a longer sentence than his son Tyler Chad Cox, 23, who was sentenced earlier for his part in the robbery and handed a four-and-a-half year sentence. She said that Tyler Cox is a more youthful offender, he cooperated with authorities, pleaded guilty after the preliminary hearing, was a young man suffering from a drug addiction and co-operated with the court process. Stanley Cox, on the other hand, had numerous previous serious offences, including for drugs and firearms, was the primary actor in the robbery and did the planning of the heist, including stealing a car to assist in the escape.

The judge agreed with Freiheit's arguments.

The convictions relate to a February 1, 2011 robbery of the Rexall Drug Store, in which two armed, disguised males entered the store and proceeded to take one of the employees to the back of the store where they demanded narcotics. They then left the store with what police described as a significant amount of narcotics.