The man found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of a neighbor on a Valrico basketball court has been sentenced to eight years in prison followed by 10 years' probation.

A jury found Trevor Dooley, 71, guilty in November in the death of David James.

The judge felt Dooley was sorry for his actions. It's one reason she gave him a lighter sentence than the state normally requires. She said Dooley seemed like a good man who made some bad decisions.

"Sadly, what I’ve heard through testimony and described to me through letters sounds like a good man who made very bad decisions on September 26, 2010,” said Judge Ashley Moody, “and because of that Mr. James’ life was cut short and so was the time his family had to share with him. And now they are left with pain and the memory of their hero, someone that served our country.”

After the sentencing, James’ widow said she felt the judge was too sympathetic to Dooley.

“While we are glad that he will be going to prison, it is a relief that it is something but we cannot say we are happy that it is not more time,” said Kanina James.

Although Dooley seemed to showed little emotion when the sentence was read, his attorney said this is a difficult time for him.

The victim’s family got a chance to speak to Dooley in court. David James’ widow was the first to speak.

Instead of addressing the judge, she wanted to speak to Dooley directly, calling him a bitter old man that should spend the rest of his life behind bars.

“I've been told I should forgive you, I want you to know I will never forgive you for what you carelessly took from this world. Your death will not come soon enough,” Kanina James.

Authorities said Dooley and James, 41, were arguing about a skateboarder using a neighborhood basketball court in September 2010.

Dooley came to the park and told a skateboarder to leave and James defended the skateboarder, according to officials. James and Dooley argued and after the fight escalated, an armed Dooley ended up shooting James.

Dooley said during the trial he only pulled out his gun after James grabbed him by the throat and pulled him to the ground.

James was shot and died in front of his then 8-year-old daughter.

The daughter, now 10-years-old, didn't come to the sentencing but her grandmother, Antoinette James, read aloud a letter the girl had written to Dooley.

“That was the worst day of my life because I had to watch my dad die that day. I'll never forget that day ever. I’ll never live the same life again,” the letter read in part.

Dooley kept his head down during most of the statements. He's been free since being convicted of manslaughter in November.

He faced up to 30 years in prison. Dooley's attorney say they plan to appeal and even though he's going to prison now Dooley's attorneys want to get him out on bond during that appeal.