St. John's pharmacist sentenced to prison time

St. John's pharmacist Ann Marie Burke has been sentenced totwo years and 31 days in prison on drugtrafficking convictions.

Burke, 55, who pleaded guilty to five drug charges on Oct. 5, was charged this winter when a drug bust at her apartment found an array of drugs, as well as other evidence that included cheques police believed were turned over to her in return for drugs.

Police also say they found clothes and jewelry that Burke accepted in return for drugs.

Burke worked at Downtown Pharmacy, on the west end of Water Street in St. John's, where her duties includeddispensing methadone to narcotics addicts.

Burke, who had been awaiting sentencing next month, was arrested Monday for breaching court orders to keep the peace and to not consume alcohol.

Her lawyer, John Noonan, told CBC News that his client wanted to be sentenced now rather than wait.

"Ittakes a lot of courage for someone in her position to stand up and take responsibility for what she did, and face the music, and that's what she did," Noonan said.

"I think it took a lot of courage and I really respect her for doing that."

Court was told that Burke has multiple addictions problems herself. In addition to problems with alcohol, Burke became hooked on OxyContin after a car accident, and when she could not get relief from the powerful painkiller, she topped up her intake with Percocet.

Burke, who was chargedfollowing a year-long police investigation, has already suffered dramatic losses, Noonan said.

"She's lost her licence to practice. She's lost her career. It's had a big impact on her relationship with her family," Noonan said. "She's humiliated. She's embarrassed."

The January bust at Burke's apartment near downtown St. John's has yet to complete its journey through the courts. Christopher Hollett, who was also arrested at the scene, is scheduled to undergo a two-day trial in November.

Hollett wasgiven a 29-month sentence in Septemberfor a June 2010 road rage case. Hollettchased anotherman through St. John's traffic, assaulted him at a gas station where a frantic call was made to police, and used a baseball bat to strike the other man's car.