A jury on Wednesday sentenced Darius Jamal Fields to 55 years in prison for masterminding the slaying of Shavon Randle, an innocent 13-year-old who was kidnapped and killed over a drug robbery in 2017.

The verdict came after about 2 1/2 hours of deliberation. The jury could have sentenced Fields to anywhere from 15 years to life in prison.

The same jury on Tuesday convicted Fields of engaging in organized criminal activity. Prosecutors told jurors that Fields was the kingpin of a lucrative drug business. Shavon’s kidnapping was in retaliation for the robbery of $250,000 worth of marijuana she had nothing to do with, prosecutors said.

Fields had no visible reaction to the sentence. After hearing his sentence, he told state District Judge Tracy Holmes, “You have a blessed day.”

Fields’ attorney, Scottie Allen, vowed to appeal the verdict. Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Falk called the sentence “just.”

Shavon’s mother, Shaquna Persley said she’s happy that Fields’ sentence, combined with the federal sentence he’s already serving, means he won’t get out of prison.

“I’m still not going to get my baby back,” Persley said. “I shouldn’t have to visit Lincoln Memorial to see my child.”

‘I never considered myself a kingpin’

Against the advice of his lawyers, Fields testified during Wednesday’s punishment phase. He repeatedly said he had nothing to do with the killing of Shavon or Michael Titus, who was found dead in the same east Oak Cliff drug house and whom Fields said he loved “like a brother.”

“If I could have saved him or Shavon I would have,” Fields told the jury. Some of Shavon’s relatives quietly sighed and shook their heads as he spoke. One man walked out of the courtroom, which was full for Fields’ testimony.

During questioning by Allen and Falk, Fields was alternatively charming and emotional.

Fields began crying soon after he got on the stand. Asked by Allen where his father was, Fields screwed up his face and broke into tears as he explained that his father spent most of his life in prison.

He cried again while mentioning that most of the people he grew up with went on to have successful athletic careers, including Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller and former San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Tony Jerod-Eddie.

Jurors who weren’t wearing masks pursed their lips as Fields spoke. Others crossed their arms. One juror kept glancing toward Shavon’s family and loved ones, who were crying in the gallery and holding each other.

Asked to recall certain dates, Fields said he doesn’t like keeping time because he spent much of his time after high school incarcerated. He couldn’t remember when his son was born, but he could recall the date in 2015 when he was first released from prison.