Kozloski had faced more than four years in prison, but Superior Court Judge Ronald Spivey said he believed Christian Kozloski didn’t mean to kill his mother. Kozloski, 24, was found guilty by a jury Tuesday on felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and neglect of a disabled person.

“I go into this wanting to believe the defendant did not sit around with this end in mind,’ Spivey said before pronouncing sentence. “It’s almost unthinkable.’

Spivey imposed an additional suspended sentence of 15 months to 18 months in prison and 36 months of supervised probation.

Iris Kozloski, 48, died from dehydration and a blood infection at her son’s home on Nov. 30, 2001. A medical expert testified at his trial that her ailments could have been treated if she had received medical help.

Before sentencing Christian Kozloski, Spivey said jurors he spoke with Tuesday night after the trial asked that he consider the defendant lost his mother, even though he was responsible for her death.

On the other hand, Spivey said he was disturbed Christian Kozloski never sought medical help for his mother despite her rapid weight loss, her failure to eat and a bed sore on an ankle that exposed the bone.

The judge said he was also troubled the defendant waited eight hours after she died before calling 911.

Earlier Wednesday, Kozloski thanked the judge.

“I just wanted to say I did recognize your fairness on both sides of the trial, and I do appreciate it,’ he said.

He did not mention his mother’s death.

Kozloski buries his emotions to try to cope with the loss he’s suffered, defense attorney Krispen Culbertson said afterward.

“He’s lost five close relatives in three to four years including his parents,’ Culbertson said. “It’s almost kind of a numbness.’

Culbertson declined to comment on whether he will appeal the conviction.

Assistant District Attorney Julia Hejazi, who prosecuted the case, said the judge was fair, although she recommended a maximum sentence in part because Christian Kozloski hoped to profit from her death.

Hejazi said in closing remarks Tuesday Kozloski took his mother out of a nursing home after having the court appoint him guardian so he could profit from his deceased father’s $100,000 life-insurance policy. The money was set aside for his mother’s care.

Culbertson, however, said Christian Kozloski believed he stood to gain more money if his mother lived because he would have been the main beneficiary of a possible $1 million medical malpractice lawsuit.

Iris Kozloski suffered oxygen deprivation during surgery on her ankle, causing massive brain damage.