VALPARAISO | Robert Kalbe told the court Thursday that 15-year-old Christopher Janus was not just his stepson, but also his best friend.

A day does not go by that he and his family are not reminded of Janus, who was beaten and stomped to death June 8, 2007, in South Haven by his older friend, Mark Easter.

While Kalbe and prosecutors called for the 65-year maximum for the crime, Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford opted for 55 years.

"Mark," Kalbe said looking down from the witness stand at Easter, "look to God because he's the only one who's going to forgive you."

Bradford said the state Supreme Court has repeatedly made it clear that maximum sentences are for the worst cases. While this beating death was certainly vicious and Easter has a violent criminal history as a juvenile, Bradford said the case lacks the evil element he has seen in other crimes.

Easter, who declined the opportunity to make a statement before sentencing, was found guilty in October of murdering Janus.

Police testified during the trial that Easter told them he beat Janus because he believed Janus was flirting with his girlfriend.

Easter told jurors he does not remember most of the beating and was acting out of self-defense because he thought Janus was coming after him with some object. Easter also said he was tired of hearing Janus brag about plans to beat up one of Easter's friends.

Bradford said Thursday he was particularly appalled by the description of Easter chasing the boy to a neighbor's yard where he beat him unconscious, walked away to announce the boy was dead and then returned twice to continue beating and stomping on the body.

"That's just too vicious to ignore," Bradford said.

Defense attorney Herbert Shaps asked Thursday for a 45-year sentence, arguing that Easter was just 20 at the time of the crime, did not use a deadly weapon, has shown great remorse, has accepted responsibility for the death and is unlikely to commit another crime.

Shaps also told the court that Easter had learned his parent's divorce was finalized shortly before the beating.

"That certainly had a grave impact," he said.

Bradford dismissed each of the claims, with the exception of Easter's young age at the time and his subsequent remorse.

He said Easter had a couple battery incidents as a juvenile and was removed from juvenile detention to protect the safety of the other young people.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Matt Frost said Easter's predisposition for violence qualifies him for prison.

"This defendant is a violent man," Frost said.