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Sonic robber gets 35 years
Photo Courtesy of Collin County Detention Center - Joseph Manuel Meisenbach was sentenced last Friday to 35 years in prison for robbing servers at Sonic Drive-Ins in Allen and Plano.
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
A 27-year-old McKinney man last week was sentenced to 35 years in prison for twice pulling a gun on employees at Sonic Drive-Ins and robbing them of their cash.
Joseph Manuel Meisenbach was given the lengthy sentence Friday after prosecutors enhanced the robberies from second-degree felonies to first-degree felonies after learning that he had been convicted of aggravated robbery in El Paso in 2006.
He was sentenced to 35 years on each of two counts of robbery, to run concurrently.
The server complied and was later able to give police a description of the suspect and the car, and a partial license plate number.
The next day, police said, Meisenbach pulled into a Sonic Drive-In in Plano and ordered a drink. This time, a female server brought him his drink, and he pulled a gun on her and demanded her cash. She also complied and gave police the same description of the man and the car as the previous victim.
Detective Scott Epperson of the Plano Police Department and Detective Brandon White of the Allen Police Department worked together to see that Meisenbach was eventually brought into custody and identified as the robber.
Police had received anonymous tips through the North Texas Crime Stoppers website, and witnesses identified Meisenbach in a photo lineup.
Meisenbach entered an open plea of guilt without a plea bargain agreement. He must serve at least 17 and a half years in prison before he is eligible for parole. He will be given credit for 190 days served in the Collin County Detention Center.
Meisenbach was sentenced by Judge Mark Rusch of the 401st District Court.
Mike Bennett and Robin Laughon of the Collin County District Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.
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