COUPEVILLE — The very people who Craig Firth hurt with his crime came to his defense when he was sentenced Monday to more than four years in prison.

Firth and Sean McLaughlin were caught at St. Hubert Catholic Church on Third Street in the early morning of May 2 by Langley Police after the pair broke into the church and vandalized the building in a drunken rage.

Police discovered that the men had thrown wine bottles into the walls, smashed windows, shattered the glass bowl that held the holy water and even tipped over the organ.

Officers connected the church break-in with an earlier burglary at The Braeburn restaurant on Second Street. The burglars had vandalized the restaurant and stolen full wine bottles and some of the bottles were later discovered at the church. The restaurant is within walking distance of the church.

Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill said she had no other choice but to send Firth to prison for 51 months due to his prior criminal history. Firth admitted in court last week that he had broken into The Braeburn restaurant and St. Hubert Catholic Church and vandalized the building.

But before Churchill announced her decision, she gave parishioners of the church a chance to address Firth.

“I just want to say, Craig sent a letter to our church saying that he was sorry for what he did,” said parishioner Jean Beers. “Since then, several of us have visited with him.”

Beers said Firth has talked to the parishioners about getting his GED and job training, and he even asked about Bible study and faith.

Beers said that the people of St. Hubert are interested in supporting Firth in his efforts to better his life.

Another parishioner asked the judge if Churchill could strike from the sentence the provision that Firth could not have any standard clause. Parishioners said they would like to send letters to Firth in prison.

Churchill struck the phrase from the sentence recommendation.

The parishioners also asked the judge to consider the shortest sentence possible.

But Churchill said that her hands were bound by sentencing guidelines and that she had only discretion within the sentence range, and that the punishment had to be between 51 and 68 months.

“I am sorry, that (51 months) is the minimum I can do,” she said.

Then Curtis Price, the boyfriend of Firth’s mother, asked if he could address the judge.

“I’ve known Craig for three years now,” he said. “He is more of a mixed up boy. He is not a bad seed.”

Price went on to draw a picture of a troubled youth. Price said Firth’s biological father disappeared from his life when Firth was a child. The man whom Firth called his dad committed suicide when Firth was 15.

That’s when the teenager began to drink, Price said.

“Craig has an alcohol problem,” Price said. “He needs some treatment. Drinking makes people do things they shouldn’t do.”

“What I’m asking of you — Craig just doesn’t need punishment. He needs help,” Price said. “I am begging you to send him somewhere where he gets help.”

Again, Churchill said she had to abide by the law.

Then it was Firth’s turn.

“I would like to apologize,” he said. He turned around briefly and looked at the group that had gathered for him in the audience.

“Have you ever been to prison?” Churchill asked Firth.

“No, I have not,” he said.

Churchill asked why he decided to write the church a letter.

“I felt kind of guilty,” he said. “I made the wrong choice.”

“Did that have anything to do with it being a church?” Churchill asked.

“Yeah, a little bit,” he said.

Churchill sentenced Firth to four years and three months in prison.

The standard range for the crimes with Firth’s criminal history is between 51 and 64 months. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the church and the restaurant.

Two rows of benches in the court room were filled with parishioners, friends and the family of Firth. Several of them were in tears as Churchill passed the sentence. St. Hubert’s Father Rick Spicer was present, as well.

“Whether you know it or not — you have family now,” Churchill said looking at the crowd.

Only minutes before Firth was sentenced, McLaughlin appeared in court.

He pled guilty to one count of burglary in the second degree. He admitted to having been at the church and breaking one item, but he denied having been at The Braeburn.

“He has always stood fast that he was not at The Braeburn,” said Margot Carter, McLaughlin’s attorney. “He has always been very honest with me about what he has done and what he hasn’t done.”

The burglary charge related to the restaurant break-in was dropped.

Deputy prosecutor Patrick McKenna later said that the prosecution agreed to the deal because it “foresaw problems proving that he was at The Braeburn.”

However, McLaughlin agreed to pay restitution for the damage at the church, as well as at The Braeburn.

Churchill sentenced him to three months in jail.

McKenna said McLaughlin’s sentence was much lower because he had no prior felony convictions.

None of the parishioners spoke of McLaughlin during his court appearance Monday.