A Santa Rosa man accused of being an accomplice to an ex-police officer in a series of armored car holdups was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison.
Prosecutors said Andrew Cooper Esslinger, 27, was involved in two heists with co-defendant Robert "Steve" Starling, 35, the former Santa Rosa and Sonoma State University cop who was convicted and sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.
Esslinger pled to lesser charges of possession for sale of cocaine, conspiracy and being armed during a narcotics transaction in exchange for his testimony against Starling.
In addition to the prison sentence, Esslinger was ordered to pay $106,000 in restitution, in part to the Brinks armored car company, for his role in a May 18, 2009 heist in Sebastopol. The other holdups took place in Santa Rosa and Novato, over a span of two years, netting hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Esslinger received only a fraction of the money from Starling, who masterminded the crimes.
Before Judge Arthur Wick pronounced his sentence, Esslinger expressed remorse, saying he wished he could rewind the events and make other choices. He told Wick he was driven by drug addiction and was eager to put the past behind him.
"I had given my life to cocaine," Esslinger said.
Since his arrest, Esslinger said he had "done everything I can to make things right."
Wick praised Esslinger for his candor and cooperation with the prosecution. He called Esslinger bright and articulate and said it was "unfortunate we are here at this time for this purpose."
"This gentleman is worth saving," Wick said. "I hope you do put the past behind you."
With credit for time already served and the 85 percent sentencing law, Esslinger could be out of prison in a little more than three years.
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