COEUR d'ALENE - Kirk J. Gosch, a former standout baseball player at Coeur d'Alene High School who was twice a Major League Baseball draft choice, was sentenced to 16 years in prison Thursday on illegal drug charges.

First District Court Judge Benjamin Simpson told Gosch, 30, he was a long way from being a pro ballplayer today.

"How many kids get that kind of a chance?" Simpson said. "You threw it away."

Gosch was found guilty by a jury in November 2010 on two counts of felony trafficking of marijuana from earlier in the year.

Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Art Verharen recommended a sentence of 17 years, with 7 years fixed, based on Gosch's prior criminal history.

"I have a daughter out there," Gosch told the court as he cried. "That's all I've got. It's my priority. I made a poor choice. My daughter needs me. She'll be 11 years old in seven years."

Simpson told Gosch he already let his daughter down.

Gosch faced up to life in prison because of Idaho's persistent violator statute. Gosch had multiple previous felonies when he was arrested this last time.

Gosch has been in custody at Kootenai County jail for a year, and he will be given credit for time served. Six years of his sentence is fixed, with no chance for parole. He'll also pay thousands of dollars combined in fines and restitution.

Gosch's defense attorney, Larry Purviance, said his client is both a drug addict and an alcoholic. He also said his client wasn't operating alone when trafficking the pot.

In 2006, Gosch was sentenced for manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, and possession of marijuana in excess of three ounces.

In that earlier case, a jury found Gosch converted marijuana into what authorities called "honey oil," a liquid form of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana.

In 1999, he was named an All-USA Today honorable mention and was picked in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.