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A man was sentenced to prison for up to life on Tuesday for shooting and killing a Salt Lake City convenience store clerk in 2014.

Anthony William Cline, 31, was charged in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder for the November 2014 slaying of 29-year-old Jamie Blalack.

Cline pleaded guilty in May to a lesser count of second-degree felony manslaughter, as well as one count of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm with serious bodily injury.

On Tuesday, Judge Paul Parker sentenced him to two to 20 years on the manslaughter count and five years to life on the firearm charge. The judge ordered the two terms to run concurrently for what he called an "unforgivable ... act of recklessness," when Cline fired one fatal shot at the window of a convenience store that struck Blalack in the head.

If Cline had fired a second shot, Parker said, "the sentence would be different."

Parker denied a request from members of Cline's family to speak at the sentencing, noting that he had already read the letters they had submitted to the court. But the judge did hear from five of Blalack's family members Tuesday, all of whom requested the maximum legal sentence for Cline.

"I do not hate you," Cheryl Clark, Blalack's mother, said to Cline, "but I will not show any remorse, compassion or sympathy for what you have done."

Clark said she feels a "big void" in her heart, knowing that she'll never get another call from her son or hear him say he loves her again.

But defense attorney Brenda Viera spoke of Cline's remorse and how he was "horrified to know that he, who has lost a child, has taken another person's child."

Viera also spoke of the efforts Cline has made to help fellow inmates struggling with sobriety and faith.

Since being in jail, Cline has married the woman who was his fiancée at the time he was arrested, Viera said, and if he were to be released, he would have support from his family to get back on his feet.

But Blalack's family members countered that their brother, uncle and son will never have the chance to do the things Cline has planned for his future.

"I feel like my family has been robbed of a relationship that could have been something great," said Blalack's niece Bailey James. "Our family will never get that relationship with [Blalack] that we deserve. [Cline] should pay the price for that."

After listening to the family's remarks, Cline told the judge "everything they said is absolutely true."

He said he knew a simple sorry was "not enough," but still gave Blalack's family members an apology.

"I don't ever expect or ask for their forgiveness," Cline said. "All I hope is that one day his family will be able to find some sort of peace."

Parker deliberated for about 15 minutes before he announced Cline's sentence.

He said that he could not "imagine anything worse than a family member lost over these kinds of circumstances."

At about 1:20 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2014 after a night of heavy drinking, Cline had entered the 7-Eleven at 1157 W. California Ave., and got into an argument with Blalack over cigarettes, according to police.

Prosecutors said that during the argument, Cline showed a gun and told Blalack he was going to shoot him, but put the firearm back before exiting the building.

Then from outside, prosecutors said, Cline fired a single shot which passed through the store window and hit Blalack in the head. Police found Blalack dead behind the store's counter from the bullet wound.

Charging documents confirmed that there was a large bullet hole in the front window of the store, and a .45-caliber shell casing was found on the grass outside the store.

Police obtained video surveillance footage from the store which showed an individual arguing with Blalack just before he was shot. The individual can be heard telling Blalack that he is going to shoot him, charges state.

Cline was arrested after police released several still images from the video to media outlets.

Detectives traced his location to a motel in Davis County, where he was arrested.

A search of Cline's motel room yielded a silver 1911 model .45-caliber handgun, as well as clothing that matched that of the shooting suspect, charges state.

Blalack had worked the graveyard shift at the store for four years and lived in the area, according to police.

On Tuesday, Parker told Cline had no business carrying a gun, much less a loaded gun, into the store, and Parker said he did not believe Cline's claim to police that he couldn't remember what had happened that evening or that he tried to "aim high" in order to avoid hurting anyone.

Nevertheless, Parker said, he could not legally believe or find that the fatal act was intentional and the plea of manslaughter demonstrated that.

Parker also noted that although Cline has a criminal record that includes misdemeanor convictions for possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal mischief, his prior crimes were not severe enough for Parker to sentence him to serve time consecutively.

Parker said it is the defendant's responsibility to make full restitution, not just to pay money, "but to also change himself and be a man that is a different person."

Twitter: @mnoblenews