( CNN ) -- A former University of Virginia lacrosse player convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Thursday , according to the Commonwealth Attorney 's office in Charlottesville , Virginia . In February , a Charlottesville jury found George Huguely , 24 , guilty of second-degree murder and grand larceny in the May 2010 death of Yeardley Love . Circuit Court Judge Edward Hogshire sentenced Huguely to 23 years for murder and to one year , concurrent with that sentence , for the larceny charge . He also sentenced Huguely to three years of supervised release . The judge 's decision was slightly less than the recommendation of the jury , which had suggested the defendant be sentenced to 26 years in prison . Virginia does not have parole . Huguely may earn time for good behavior during his incarceration , but the maximum credit he can receive is 15 % . In other words , he must serve at least 85 % of his sentence , or roughly 19Â½ years . `` We love George and will always support him , '' Huguely 's family said in a statement soon after sentencing . `` We hope and pray that the passage of time will bring some semblance of peace and healing to each and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy , most especially the Love family . '' The case captured national attention and highlighted the volatile relationship of star athletes Huguely and Love , 22 . Both played lacrosse for the university 's nationally ranked teams . The jury did not agree with the prosecution that Huguely was guilty of first-degree murder , and it acquitted him on several other charges , including robbery , and breaking and entering to commit larceny . Huguely has never denied he was in Love 's apartment nor that they had a fight . At the center of the case were dueling portraits of Huguely , who prosecutors contend killed Love in a jealous rage . The defense argued the death was accidental . Prosecutors claimed Huguely followed through with a threat to kill Love after accusing her of having a liaison with a lacrosse player from a competing university . `` I should have killed you , '' he wrote in an e-mail to Love , which was read during the trial . The defense argued that Huguely contributed to her death but had no intention of killing her . During the trial , Huguely attorney Francis Lawrence described his client as `` stupid , drunk -- but not calculating . '' Police were initially called to Love 's Charlottesville apartment by a roommate who reported a possible alcohol overdose , authorities said at the time . A medical examiner found Love died of blunt force trauma to the head . The prosecution told jurors that Love 's death was slow and painful , claiming she could have remained alive for a couple of hours after Huguely left her apartment . Inside an emotionally charged courtroom , Huguely hung his head and appeared to cry during the sentencing phase that followed the jury 's verdict . `` George 's decision and judgment were clouded by drinking , immaturity , '' attorney Rhonda Quagliana told the jurors . `` It 's not an excuse . It 's not a justification . It 's just a fact ... ( at the time ) George is a 22-year-old immersed in sex and alcohol . '' In Session 's Jessica Thill , Michael Christian , Jean Casarez and Mayra Cuevas contributed to this report .
A judge also sentences George Huguely to three years ' probation . June 2014 - A panel recommended he be sentenced to 26 years in prison .