A man who robbed a Spokane pharmacy of OxyContin in June was sentenced to 31 months in prison today.

Nicholas A. Blessing, 28, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery for the June 16 holdup at the Walgreens at 2105 E. Wellesley Ave. The plea deal approved this morning dismissed three counts of second-degree assault.

It was the same plea deal Blessing was set to take in October but asked for more time after bailing out of jail the night before.

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Dale Nagy said at the time that he would rescind the plea deal and pursue all four charges, plus weapons enhancements.

But the weapons enhancements probably wouldn't have stuck because Blessing had a starter pistol instead of a handgun.

The assault charges would have been wrapped in with the robbery charge anyway because the assaults occurred within the course of the robbery, Nagy said today.

Blessing turned himself in June 29.

Surveillance photos showed him walking into the store Employees said he pointed a gun at them and demanded OxyContin, then banged the base of the gun on the counter and stated, "hurry up. Hurry up. I'm not kidding," according to a probable cause affidavit.

Blessing was taken into custody immediately after his sentencing.

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