Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman's family, friends and colleagues say they still face a difficult road ahead in learning how to live their lives without a man many in the community call a hero. Our Sarah Blazonis was in court and has more.

UTICA, N.Y. -- The crowd that packed into Oneida County Court Wednesday had waited 10 months to see Christian Patterson sentenced for the death of Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman.

Sheriff Rob Maciol told the court that for him, the awaited day didn't bring closure.

"You murdered a loving husband and father, a caring son and a brother to all around him. You shot and killed a piece of our county, you shot and killed a piece of our country," said Sheriff Maciol.

Patterson was convicted of fatally shooting 24-year-old Wyman following a standoff at his Town of Augusta home last June.

Wyman's family spoke at the sentencing about his love of family, strong faith and dedication to the community.

"He enjoyed putting others before himself. He enjoyed investing in teenagers, especially because he knew if someone didn't, they would more than likely end up in the back of his patrol car and he didn't want that," said his wife, Lauren.

The faith of Deputy Wyman and his family echoed in their words to Christian Patterson.

"You made some very bad choices on the night of June 6 and the early morning hours of June 7. Today, will you make the best choice you could ever make and admit to God, the righteous judge, that you have sinned against him?" said Lynnette Wyman, his mother.

Patterson expressed his sympathies to the Wyman family, but as he and his attorney argued throughout his trial, he called the Sheriff's Office corrupt and deceitful. He said they were responsible for the ultimate outcome of that night, prompting Judge Barry Donalty to speak out.

"It was because of your anger, your inability to control yourself that this happened. How dare you blame anybody else?" said Judge Donalty.

Christian Patterson will spend the rest of his life in jail.

The Wymans say the rest of theirs will be spent moving on and making sure Kurt's legacy lives on with his two young children.

"We will be sure to tell them everything," said Deputy Wyman's father, Brian Wyman. "Because their daddy drove up your driveway that night a brave man and he went to heaven a hero."

In addition to his life sentence for the aggravated murder of Deputy Wyman, Patterson will also serve two terms of 40 years to life in prison for the attempted aggravated murder of two other officers. Those sentences will run consecutively.