Wiping tears from his eyes, Johnathan Milligan apologized Monday to the police officers he fired upon during a high-speed chase in November 2006.

A Natrona County District Court judge then sentenced Milligan to 28 to 45 years in prison.

Milligan, 17, was one of six teenagers and men from Craig, Colo., who authorities say robbed the Sunset Grill on Nov. 29, 2006 and then led police on a chase where officers were shot at multiple times.

He is the fifth person to be sentenced in connection with the robbery and chase. The sixth and alleged ringleader of the group, Paul Howell, is set for trial in February.

Wearing a blue jail uniform and handcuffs, Milligan told the court he wasn't a bad person and actually wanted to be a cop when he was younger.

"I wish I could just tell the officers who were there that night I was very sorry," he said.

Milligan pleaded guilty to attempted murder, robbery and conspiracy charges in September as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. At that time, he admitted to shooting at officers.

One of those officers, Dan Slattery of the Mills Police Department, spoke at the sentencing about the impact the shooting has had on himself and his family. Slattery said he still has nightmares about the incident.

"Every day I go to work I kiss my family goodbye," he said. "Perhaps it will be the last time I see them."

Slattery said he has forgiven Milligan, but asked Judge David Park to impose the maximum sentence: life behind bars.

"Mr. Howell and Mr. Milligan have no regard for human life," Slattery said.

After the sentencing, Slattery said he was glad that Milligan was being held accountable for his actions.

Prosecutors asked Park to impose a sentence of 40 to 45 years in prison, pointing out that Milligan had emptied two clips from a .40-caliber handgun at police during the chase. District Attorney Michael Blonigen acknowledged the influence Paul Howell, 30, had on Milligan, but added, "That doesn't slow down the bullets he fired."

Milligan's attorney, William Disney, requested Park's sentence reflect both the seriousness of the crime and Milligan's youth and chance for rehabilitation.

"He is going to be a different person in two years, five years, 15 years," Disney said.

Of the defendants who accepted plea deal, Milligan got the harshest sentence.

Judges recommended Steven Liljedahl, 17, James Gore, 18, and Daniel Merwin, 17, should go to the state's boot camp program for youthful offenders. The three were not accused of shooting at police.

Michael Garren, 20, admitted to driving the getaway truck during the chase and received a 20- to 30-year sentence.

The group was traveling in a stolen pickup from Colorado to Montana when they decided to rob the Sunset Grill, according to prosecutors.

As the truck headed toward Casper on Highway 220, a Natrona County sheriff's deputy tried to pull over the pickup. The chase began when the truck sped off. The pursuit continued into Casper and ended in a muddy Bar Nunn field.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.