A 30-year-old Tampa man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for a hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist.

The defendant asked the victim's family for forgiveness during the sentencing hearing.  

The judge says he agonized over how much time to give the defendant.

Manuel Manna's going to spend the next 10 years of his life in prison for leaving the scene of a crash that killed 43-year-old Humberto Saez.

In May, a jury found Manna guilty of leaving the scene of a crash with injury or death.

During his sentencing hearing, Manna told the victim's family he takes full responsibility for Saez's death.

“I do want to apologize to the Saez family very much,” he said. “The events that took place that evening will haunt me because that evening, I took a man’s life."

Police say in February of 2012, Saez was riding his bicycle on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, when Manna hit him with an SUV and took off.

Detectives say when they found Manna, his SUV had front end damage and was freshly washed.

The victim's cousin, who now has custody of his son, talked on behalf of the Saez family.

“To this young man and his family, may you find peace in your hearts. And to my family, healing begins with forgiveness. May God be with all of us,” said Belinda Morales.

Sentencing guidelines called for Manna to be sentenced to a little more than nine years in prison.

Manna's attorney asked Judge Ronald Ficarrotta to give his client probation or one and a half years in prison, while the prosecutor asked the judge for 30-years.

Judge Ficarrotta said it was a tough decision that he agonized over before sentencing Manna.

“You do have to take 100-percent full responsibility. You do have to be punished. I intend to craft a sentence that I think accomplishes that. I will adjudicate you guilty. I will sentence you 10-years in the Florida state prison, to be followed by 10-years of probation,” the judge said. 

The judge also permanently revoked Manna's driver's license.

After that sentence came down, the victim's family declined our request for an interview.  Manna has 30-days to appeal the sentence.