James Holmes received 12 life sentences in prison this week for each of the people he murdered in a Colorado movie theater three years ago and an additional 3,318 years for nonlethal crimes related to the 70 he wounded, as well as for rigging his home with explosives.
"It is the court's intention that the defendant never set foot in free society again," Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. said after Wednesday's sentencing,
CNN reported.
"If there was ever a case that warranted a maximum sentence, this is the case. The defendant does not deserve any sympathy. Sheriff, get the defendant out of my courtroom please."
Prosecutors had sought a life sentence in prison, rather than the death penalty, and the jury approved.
Before reading the sentence, Samour spent more than an hour giving a speech to the gallery, saying that Holmes had not prevailed because he did not receive the death penalty,
The New York Times reported.
"Whereas the defendant had a long-lasting hatred of mankind, the victims who have come in here and addressed the court have shown all that is good about humanity," he said, at times appearing to choke back tears.
"We’re a civilized society. If we subscribe to the 'eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' philosophy, we would be no different than the criminal."
Holmes' lawyers, who were unsuccessful with an insanity plea for their client, said they would not seek to appeal the case.
Holmes entered a midnight screening of Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" at the Century 16 megaplex in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012.
He wore a helmet, gas mask, and ballistic gear. He first tossed a tear gas canister, then opened fire on the moviegoers. He carried a shotgun, a rifle, and a pistol, and had more than 700 rounds of ammunition. The gun eventually jammed, at which time he walked out of the theater and surrendered.