Dante Kirpal Kier’s face reflected little on Thursday as he was sentenced to 35 years in the Montana State Hospital.

Although he showed up in a black peacoat, orange jeans and white tennis shoes and sporting freshly shaven eyebrows, the 20-year-old seemed much more clear-headed and well-spoken at his sentencing Thursday than he has been at the rest of his hearings since being charged with attempted murder.

On Dec. 12, 2011, Kier entered the Kalispell home of Brian Bay while Bay was outside looking for a tool he needed to fix a dishwasher. When Bay came back inside, he found Kier standing in his hallway, holding a wood-handled steak knife.

In the subsequent tussle, Kier stabbed Bay in the upper arm and inside the mouth before trying unsuccessfully to stab him in the ribs. A court document said the knife became “bent severely.” Bay eventually overpowered Kier and restrained him until police arrived.

Originally charged with attempted deliberate homicide, aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon, Kier eventually pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the attempted deliberate homicide charge; the other charges were dismissed.

Early after the charges were filed against him, it was unclear if Kier would  be able to continue in his regular court hearings. An arraignment was continued a month and a half while a mental health evaluation was completed.

However, Kier said on Thursday that his past mental state had no bearing on the fact that he was responsible for the actions he had taken, and that he deserved his punishment.

“I have sincere and deep regret for everything that has gone on,” Kier said. “I hurt another human being, which is already out of my character, and moreso than that I hurt another human being who I intuit to be a genuinely good person, which just mars my sense of self pretty significantly, and the fact that I was suffering from a mental illness — which is something that is historical in my life — doesn’t make the wounds that I inflicted on another human being any less painful, and I recognize that despite (the fact) that I have personality issues, like my mental illness, I did something terrible and I in no way feel as though I am being given more than what is necessary, and I’m absolutely willing and capable to take responsibility for what I’ve done.”

Kier had already been undergoing some mental health treatment as his court case progressed, and when asked Thursday if he felt he was better today than he was a year ago, he responded enthusiastically.

“Immensely,” Kier said.

This marked the second time he has apologized in court for his actions. The first apology came when he went against the suggestion of his attorney and spoke during his change-of-plea hearing in November 2012.

Bay took the stand briefly to say he and his wife supported the recommended 35-year sentence and to share how much they appreciated the work of the Flathead County Attorney’s Office and the Kalispell Police Department.

“We live in an amazing community here in Kalispell,” Bay said.

District Judge Ted Lympus also ordered Kier to pay the Bays $1,906 in restitution for medical bills, but that he was not required to begin paying until he was out of the state hospital in a position where he could take a job.

If the Department of Health and Human Services determines Kier can appropriately be released prior to the completion of the full 35 years, a hearing will be held to review the sentence.