COEUR d'ALENE - Joseph Herrera on Thursday was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for the Christmas day 2011 murder of his girlfriend Stefanie Comack.

"I'm sorry, I truly am sorry," Herrera, 29, of St. Maries, said before receiving his sentence.

He said he takes "full responsibility" for his "reckless actions," which included shooting Comack in the head in an upstairs bedroom he was staying in at his parents' St. Maries home.

He was convicted by a Kootenai County jury in June. The trial was moved from Benewah County to find impartial jurors.

First District Court Judge Fred Gibler said Comack, 18, had goals to become a nurse or lawyer and help people. Herrera had no direction, had no job, and was living off others.

Gibler described Comack as "a young lady who had done nothing wrong" to deserve her fate.

Suzie Comack, Stefanie Comack's mother, told the court there is no aspect of her life, or her family's, that hasn't been damaged by the murder.

She described her daughter as a beautiful, smart and healthy young woman with a big family who loved her and miss her dearly.

She called Herrera a selfish and controlling person who has no remorse, calling him a "monster."

She called him a loser who "wants to be a gangster," and said he can now go to prison with others like him.

The trial showed Stefanie Comack wanted to break up with Herrera, but was afraid what might happen if she did. They were fighting on that Christmas morning because she wanted to visit her family and he didn't.

Kaytlin Comack, Stefanie's older sister, told the court, "Christmas is never going to be the same."

Herrera and his defense attorney tried to make a case that the shooting was an accident, and sought a manslaughter conviction. They laid out details of the couple's meth use and party lifestyle, but also tried to show Herrera and Comack loved each other.

Benewah County Prosecutor Doug Payne had recommended the court give Herrera a mandatory 22 years.

He described it as a "gut-wrenching case."

With credit for time served in jail since his arrest, Herrera won't be eligible for parole until he is 50 years old.