MANSFIELD - The getaway driver in last spring's bank robbery, which ended in the holdup man being fatally shot by police who thought he had a gun, pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced to prison.

George F. Moore, 21, of 41 Foundry St., Apt. 21-2, in Easton, received a 1- to 3-year prison term after pleading guilty in New Bedford Superior Court to unarmed robbery.

Moore was driving the Ford Explorer stopped by police on School Street near Spring Street April 24 moments after a robbery at the North Easton Savings Bank branch at 71 Copeland Drive.

While Moore obeyed police officers' commands to stay in the vehicle with his hands up, his passenger, David A. Semenza, 20, of 28 Gaslight Lane in North Easton, got out of the vehicle and was shot after a standoff in which police believed he had a gun.

Moore initially told police he did not know Semenza was going to rob the bank. Assistant District Attorney Stephen Butts asked Judge Robert Kane to impose a 3-year sentence, but Moore's lawyer, Daniel Rich of Norton, argued for the lesser sentence, saying his client had no previous criminal record.

The shooting was determined to be justified by Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter after an investigation which found the actions of the officers involved were within the scope of their duties and was reasonable force, given the circumstances.

Semenza, whose family said was addicted to heroin, defied officers' commands to get down on the ground and at one point told police he had a gun. He was shot after he advanced on police and took his hand from his pocket, revealing a black object police believed was a gun.