INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ A 26-year-old central Indiana man has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for stabbing an Indianapolis man to death last year.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/1GK8gZV ) that Harley Sims of Morgantown was emotional and wiped tears from his eyes during Wednesday's hearing. He was found guilty of murder in February in the stabbing death of 31-year-old Kristopher Griner.

Sims told the court he took responsibility for his actions and apologized. Sims was given credit for time served and also received two years of probation. He is required to serve at least half of his sentence.

Sims said after the hearing that he plans to appeal his sentence.

Griner's stepmother, Jana Griner, told the court the family would “never forget the pain'' that Sims caused.