A Baltic man who told police he robbed a Chinese restaurant in Norwich with a BB gun because he was "dope sick" and desperate for drug money was sentenced Monday to four years in prison.

Thirty-seven year old Matthew K. Dubicki had pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery in connection with the Oct. 19, 2018, robbery of Mr. Pan's Chinese Restaurant at 332 Old Canterbury Turnpike.

According to court documents and testimony, Dubicki entered the restaurant through the back door at 10:18 p.m. and asked the cashier if she could break a $100 bill. When the woman opened up the cash register drawer and began counting money, he pulled out a gun, pointed it at her and said, "Give it to me now."

The cashier was "petrified," according to prosecutor Stephen M. Carney, and gave Dubicki approximately $150.

Identified by police using video surveillance from the restaurant and other nearby businesses, Dubicki confessed that he told his mother he was going for a walk after finding a BB gun belonging to his brother.

"The accused stated he brought the BB gun with him on the walk because he was so dope sick he was going to get money no matter what to get high," according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Dubicki told police that after the robbery, he immediately took $60 of the stolen money to Norwich and bought a bundle of heroin. Police said they recovered the BB gun and the clothing he wore during the robbery in the basement of the family home.

His attorney, M. Fred DeCaprio, said Dubicki had a work history and a minor criminal record, and that a probation officer who interviewed Dubicki during a presentencing investigation asked him, "What are you doing here?"

Judge Hillary B. Strackbein said the effects of heroin and fentanyl addiction on the community, defendants and victims are seen every day in court.

"It's a real scourge on the community," Strackbein said. 'People who are so desperate, who would never do this, would hold somebody at gunpoint to get money."

Fatalities among people who have pending court cases also are tragically common. Jordon T. Kondratowicz, 36, Norwich, of who had four court cases pending with charges that included attempted robbery, burglary and criminal mischief, died on Christmas Day,  according to court officials. He had been released from custody to undergo drug treatment while his cases were pending. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said that autopsy results for Kondratowicz are pending further studies.

k.florin@theday.com