A man charged with stealing a generator that was used to keep a 911 system operating during the January ice storm has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Forty-two-year-old Kenny Napier of Morrow told a Washington County jury Tuesday he was sorry. His wife and 18-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, asked jurors to be lenient.

Napier was sentenced on a batch of charges, including interfering with emergency communications.

Jurors were told that Napier would be eligible for release after serving one-sixth of his sentence.

Prosecutor John Threet says he feels sympathy for Napier's family, but he says Napier knew the generator was used to keep the 911 system running in an emergency.