A Tucson man who robbed an east-side bank was sentenced to five years in prison Monday.
Vincent Mark Cesare pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault for the September 2013 robbery at a U.S. Bank in the 7600 block of East Broadway.
“Mr. Cesare, you do deserve a substantial sentence for this crime,” Pima County Superior Court Judge Richard Nichols said.
Cesare was accused of pointing a handgun at two bank tellers and demanding money. He also threatened a pair of customers as well.
“He never intended to hurt anyone,” defense attorney Nicki DiCampli said at the sentencing.
DiCampli said Cesare suffered a work-related accident that required surgery and pain medication, which triggered a relapse into addiction.
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“The addiction being overwhelming and again took control of his life,” DiCampli said.
Cesare said he had been sober since 2001 before the incident.
“The loss in my life has been outrageous,” Cesare said, apologizing to the victims. “I’m very disappointed with myself.”
Cesare said his addiction to prescription medication caused his life to spin out of control, resulting in the loss of his home, business and family.
He said the gun he used in the robbery was not real.
Nichols allowed Cesare’s father, prominent Tucson businessman Joe Cesare, to address the court prior to pronouncement of the sentence.
“He is a victim of his addiction,” Joe Cesare said.
Vincent Mark Cesare originally faced numerous charges, including two counts of armed robbery, five counts of aggravated assault and four counts of kidnapping.
