A man who used a handgun to get prescription drugs from an Aberdeen pharmacy in December has been sentenced to 15 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary with 10 years of the term suspended.

Twenty-seven year-old Dustin Malsom of Bath had pleaded guilty to armed robbery.

Testimony conflicted as to whether Malsom pointed the gun at pharmacy workers. Jones Drug owner Duncan Murphy said employees were terrified and didn't know whether Malsom's gun was loaded.

In court, Malsom apologized, saying he was out of control due to his drug use.

The judge in the case said Malsom was spared a longer prison sentence because he had no significant prior criminal record.