MARIETTA, Ga. - Justin Ross Harris was sentenced to life in prison without a possibility of parole plus 32 years on Monday for the hot car death of his 22-month-old son Cooper.
Judge Mary Staley followed the recommendation of assistant district attorney Chuck Boring and sentenced Harris to the maximum possible sentence for the eight guilty counts in court on Monday afternoon.
Ross Harris was found guilty of malice murder and felony murder last month in a high-profile trial that lasted for weeks. Harris was found guilty on all eight charges brought against him by Cobb County prosecutors related to the death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper.
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Cooper Harris was found in the back of his father's SUV on a hot, June 2014 afternoon. Ross Harris had left little Cooper in the car after taking him to breakfast, then driving to his office, a short distance away, in a Vinings office park.
Harris did not discover Cooper's lifeless body until late in the afternoon.
WATCH | Full Ross Harris sentencing hearing
In addition to the murder and child cruelty charges, Harris was convicted on multiple charges of dissemination of harmful materials to minors relating to his sexting with underage girls.
Prosecutors maintained that Harris was so preoccupied with conducting illicit online and in-person affairs with women of varying ages that he completely ignored his son, leaving him in the car. Among the women that Harris exchanged texts and emails with were teens as young as 15 years old.
When the Harris trial initially sought out a jury, an impartial jury could not be empaneled in Cobb County, necessitating a change in venue to Glynn County in southeast Georgia.
PHOTOS | Ross Harris reacts after being found guilty
PHOTOS: Ross Harris found guilty
"This defendant was convicted of malice murder in the murder of his son who died a torturous death and I think he’ll get the maximum,” said 11Alive's Vinnie Politan.
Politan said he felt Monday's hearing would be short, as the defense did not plan to present any evidence.
“Usually, you’d expect his family to come in and say, 'Ross Harris is an OK guy. He’s done all these great things in his life we’re going to miss him,' ” Politan said, who did not expect Harris himself to speak. “He’s holding onto the fact that maybe I’ll win an appeal so I don’t want to say anything that could be used against me down the road at any point.”
WATCH | Cobb County DA News Conference
During the hearing, Judge Mary Stanley Clark addressed Harris directly, explaining to him that he has the right to present witnesses, and the opportunity to help demonstrate a solid character that may lead to a more lenient sentence for him going forward.
"Do you understand this? Did your counsel explain this to you?"
"Yes, ma'am," Harris replied, quietly.
Harris showed absolutely no visible emotion as Clark pronounced the verdict.
At the sentencing hearing, each side can present either aggravating or mitigating evidence. Mitigating evidence would lead to a less harsh sentence, but the defense has stated it would offer no evidence at the hearing. The prosecution has estimated it will need between 15 to 20 minutes for evidence at the sentencing hearing.
The defense will have 30 days after sentencing to appeal the decision. Harris' attorney during the trial, Maddox Kilgore, has indicated that he will appeal the decision.
While the defense attorneys declined to bring up mitigating circumstances or provide any comment after sentencing, the Cobb County D.A.'s office says justice has ben served.
Harris will likely remain in the Cobb County Jail for about three weeks until the paperwork is complete in order to transfer him to prison.
