Man accused of robbing pharmacy sentenced to 6 1/2 years

By Scott Bellile

A Hortonville man accused of robbing a New London pharmacy was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.

Anthony J. Trentlage, 41, appeared in Outagamie County Circuit Court for sentencing Friday, March 18.

He was found guilty of theft of moveable property and possession of body armor by a violent felon. He pleaded no contest to both charges.

He will be eligible for earned release in 4 1/2 years and be under extended supervision for an additional 3 1/2 years after his release.

Trentlage was accused of stealing medication from Jernegan’s Health Mart Pharmacy in New London by threatening employees with a weapon on the afternoon of May 13, 2015. Weapon charges were not part of his sentence because investigators could not confirm he had used a real handgun capable of killing someone. Trentlage told police he had used an airsoft gun.

Charges of false imprisonment and disorderly conduct were dismissed.

Judge John Des Jardins handed Trentlage a more lenient sentence than the state’s recommendation of 10 years in prison and five years on extended supervision. However, Des Jardins said Trentlage committed “significant and very dangerous acts” and the community will be safer with him behind bars.

Using a baseball analogy, Des Jardins told Trentlage, “You jumped right into the major leagues of criminal activity by jumping into an armed robbery.

“It’s pretty clear you terrorized the people that were working at the pharmacy,” Des Jardins said.

Trentlage pointing a gun at employees could have traumatized them for life, Des Jardins said, whether the gun was real or fake.

“There aren’t enough words to express how sincerely sorry I am for those people I put fear and hurt into,” Trentlage said.

“I absolutely accept full responsibility and accept whatever sentence you hand down to me, your honor.”

Trentlage said he’s struggled with mental health issues and drug addiction and had sought help for both, but he couldn’t continue addiction treatment because it conflicted with the mental health treatment.

He said never had he thought his addiction would cause him to take such drastic measures to obtain medication.

“You’ve got this demon, and this whole thing is in fact a brain disorder,” Des Jardins called Trentlage’s addiction.

Des Jardins told Trentlage he hopes the prison sentence will allow him to overcome his addiction and strengthen his spirituality, which Trentlage said he’s developed through one-on-one meetings with a religious leader.

In April 2007, Trentlage pleaded guilty to robbery with use of force and two counts of burglary in Outagamie County.

He had admitted to stealing money on four consecutive nights (Oct. 9-12, 2006) from his ex-girlfriend’s China Dragon restaurant in Buchanan, and then robbing her on Oct. 13, 2006, as she was exiting her car in her garage. She said he put a knife to her neck while he said it was his finger. He received 5 1/2 years of probation.