COEUR d'ALENE - The 22-year-old Priest River man who shot at law enforcement officers during a high-speed chase was sentenced Friday in Kootenai County District Court to serve 16 years in a state penitentiary.

Dillen Endres initially faced eight felony charges, including two for attempted murder, in the case. But an April plea agreement dropped all but four of the charges in exchange for Endres pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, arson in the second degree, and burglary.

"Anytime the court considers sending someone to a state penitentiary, it is a difficult case," Judge Rich Christensen said before sentencing Endres. "You did some very bad things; you could have killed some people. This sentence is done with the safety of society in mind."

At 3 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2013, multiple law enforcement agencies were called to find Endres in the northern part of the county. According to an affidavit written by Idaho State Police Detective Gary Tolleson, two law enforcement officials attempted to pull over a vehicle in Spirit Lake for a traffic violation. When the car did not stop, a pursuit began.

"The driver of the vehicle shot at the officers on two separate occasions while evading and refusing to stop," Tolleson wrote.

Endres eventually drove onto Good Hope Road in Athol and evaded police until he collided with a residential structure, which started a fire that consumed a small wooden shed.

After the crash, Endres fled on foot. When he attempted to leave the area in a stolen Subaru he was stopped and later apprehended by SWAT officers when he approached them on foot.

The Kootenai County Prosecutor called the incident "very alarming conduct" and recommended a 20-year sentence to Christensen, with Endres being eligible for parole after 10 years.

However when called upon by the judge to give her recommendation, Kootenai County Public Defender Megan Marshall asked Christensen to "put the incident into context" when determining the sentence.

The defender cited a history of drug abuse that began when Endres was 12, as well as Endres' taking responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty to the amended charges, as her primary reasoning for asking for leniency in the case.

"This is a young man who needs help that he has never received before," Marshall said before recommending retained jurisdiction, which would allow the court to determine whether or not Endres would be a viable candidate for probation after a year of local jail time.

Finally, Endres was given the opportunity to speak on his own behalf. In past court appearances the young man was in high spirits and could be heard making jokes and even singing. However, when he began to speak to Christensen, Endres was subdued and at one point in tears.

"I know I did some things that I shouldn't have," Endres said. "I want to say sorry to the families I hurt and I am thankful for the chance for rehab."

Endres will be eligible for parole after eight years and was also ordered to pay restitution to the families whose property was harmed during the incident.