Last Suspect Convicted in Fatal Robbery Attempt

The final defendant in a 1988 armed robbery that left an Inglewood police officer dead was sentenced to a maximum term of 33 years to life in prison this week in Torrance Superior Court.

Van Otis Wilson, 22, joins three accomplices convicted of participating in a bungled armed robbery of a gas station money courier. Sgt. George Aguilar, an undercover narcotics officer, spotted the robbery and was chasing the suspects when he was shot. He became the first officer to die in the line of duty in the Inglewood Police Department’s 81-year history.

The alleged triggerman, Leslie Holget, killed himself hours after Aguilar’s death as officers moved in to arrest him, police said. Joevone Elster, the suspected ringleader, received 32 years to life in prison. Patrick Carr was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison and a 16-year-old participant was sent to the California Youth Authority until he turns 25.