The man responsible for the death of a Rio Grande Valley law enforcement officer learned his fate on Monday.

A jury handed down a 35-year sentence to Jesse Leatherwood. 

A little more than six months ago, he crashed into Ruben Garcia's patrol unit and killed him. Garcia was a deputy constable for Cameron County Precinct 1, but to his family he was much more.

"He was a good man, a good father, brother, husband," Garcia's mother, Carmen Garcia Martinez, said.

Martinez says he was well-loved and respected by many.

"I will never, ever forget him and neither will the community," Martinez said.

Precinct 1 Constable Norman Esquivel said Garcia had a heart of gold.

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"You felt like you knew him a lifetime because of the way he made you feel. He made you feel good, and he was just a happy man. Always willing to go that extra mile for people in our community," Martinez said.

Last week, a jury found Leatherwood guilty of intoxication manslaughter. After the jury handed down his sentence, the judge asked Leatherwood if he had any words.

He turned around and looked at the family and friends of Garcia and apologized. He said he hopes this sentence is what he deserves.

"I did feel that, and it did touch my heart and the man knows that he made a mistake, and the action that he had and caused that day that took a life, and it's something that yes I've forgiven him in my heart," Esquivel said.

During the week-long trial, jurors were shown evidence that Leatherwood took Xanax the day before the crash and did cocaine the morning of the crash.

Evidence was also presented that Leatherwood was on his phone moments before the crash. A lesson Constable Esquivel hopes everyone will learn from. 

"What you do while you're operating a vehicle, it can cost a life. So it's important to not be distracted, not be on that phone," Esquivel said.

While the trial is over, the tragedy of what happened will continue for Garcia's family.

"The only closure I'll have is when I go up to heaven, and he'll be waiting for me," Martinez said.