Berks County PA June 13 2013 A security guard from Berks County who shot an unarmed, aspiring rapper to death in an Allentown after-hours club received the lowest prison sentence permitted by law.
Andrew Gesslein II, 43, of Tilden Township received five to 10 years in prison Tuesday for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Maurice "O Head" Randolph on April 29, 2012, at the North End Republican Club.
Gesslein has maintained he acted in self-defense when he shot Randolph three times.
He claimed Randolph, 23, reached for a gun moments before he was shot, but police found no gun on his body.
During sentencing, Lehigh County Judge Robert Steinberg said the victim and shooter "couldn't be more different," and that if Gesslein were a police officer rather than a security guard, he believes he would not even have been charged.
The judge said that while Gesslein has no prior record, maintained employment and provided for his family, Randolph had a long criminal history and wrote rap songs that glorified violence and drug use.
"Michael Randolph bears some responsibility here," Steinberg said. "Let's not say Michael Randolph was this wonderful citizen, because he's not."
Gesslein could have received as much as 20 years in prison. He was convicted by a jury on April 4 following a four-day trial.
Randolph's family members, many of whom testified that Randolph had never been in a fight in his life, were angered by Steinberg's ruling.
Some left the courtroom in the middle of Steinberg's comments. Those who stayed appeared angry when the judge allowed Gesslein to hug his wife before being taken away.
Gesslein testified in his own defense, saying statements by the Randolph family that he had shown no remorse offended him.
"There's not a time I close my eyes and try to get some sleep that I don't see his face," Gesslein said. "That day changed my life."
Randolph worked for the Whitehall Township-based Eye in the Sky security firm at the time of the shooting. He was licensed to carry a gun, but was not supposed to be armed for that job.
Steinberg said he will suggest Gesslein spend his sentence in a minimum-security prison, but that will ultimately be up to the state Department of Corrections.
Source-reddingeagle.com
Andrew Gesslein II, 43, of Tilden Township received five to 10 years in prison Tuesday for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Maurice "O Head" Randolph on April 29, 2012, at the North End Republican Club.
Gesslein has maintained he acted in self-defense when he shot Randolph three times.
He claimed Randolph, 23, reached for a gun moments before he was shot, but police found no gun on his body.
During sentencing, Lehigh County Judge Robert Steinberg said the victim and shooter "couldn't be more different," and that if Gesslein were a police officer rather than a security guard, he believes he would not even have been charged.
The judge said that while Gesslein has no prior record, maintained employment and provided for his family, Randolph had a long criminal history and wrote rap songs that glorified violence and drug use.
"Michael Randolph bears some responsibility here," Steinberg said. "Let's not say Michael Randolph was this wonderful citizen, because he's not."
Gesslein could have received as much as 20 years in prison. He was convicted by a jury on April 4 following a four-day trial.
Randolph's family members, many of whom testified that Randolph had never been in a fight in his life, were angered by Steinberg's ruling.
Some left the courtroom in the middle of Steinberg's comments. Those who stayed appeared angry when the judge allowed Gesslein to hug his wife before being taken away.
Gesslein testified in his own defense, saying statements by the Randolph family that he had shown no remorse offended him.
"There's not a time I close my eyes and try to get some sleep that I don't see his face," Gesslein said. "That day changed my life."
Randolph worked for the Whitehall Township-based Eye in the Sky security firm at the time of the shooting. He was licensed to carry a gun, but was not supposed to be armed for that job.
Steinberg said he will suggest Gesslein spend his sentence in a minimum-security prison, but that will ultimately be up to the state Department of Corrections.
Source-reddingeagle.com