An Elkhart man has received the maximum penalty for his role in a January shooting in Cass County.

According to the Niles Daily Star, Kevin Vint, 40, was sentenced Friday to eight years and eight months in prison.

Last month a Jury found him guilty of “assault with intent to do great bodily harm", and three other felony weapons charges, in the near fatal shooting of Trevor Claire, 45, of Edwardsburg.

According to court testimony, Claire and Vint had a longstanding rocky relationship over a woman.

Jealousy led to tension and threats, which peaked when Vint pointed a laser pistol at Claire's head inside a mason township pole barn. Instead of running, Claire advanced on Vint and was shot in the leg and chest.

As a result, the father of two lost a kidney and sustained damage to his liver, arteries and remaining kidney, and is still being fed through a tube nine months after the incident.

Prior to being sentenced, Vint apologized to Claire's family, telling them he knew they would never forgive him, but he was sorry and "messed-up."