A man who admitted to beating a monkey to death at Zoo Boise in Idaho was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Michael Watkins, 22, of Weiser Idaho, was sentenced Thursday, according to Reuters. He had pleaded guilty to attempted grand theft and misdemeanor animal cruelty in March, according to the report.

"There were a number of places you could have made different decisions" that night, Fourth District Judge Lynn G. Norton said, according to the Idaho States Man newspaper "I have read everyone's version of what happened in this offense, but what I am convinced of, is your assessment of events ... is your understating the damage that you inflicted on this monkey."

Watkins, who has been in prison since he was arrested for the incident, broke into the zoo in November 17 and tried to steal the monkey which was one of the two Pata monkeys in the zoo. The animal bit Watkins and in response he kicked and hit the animal who later died from the injuries.

According to local media, Watkins violently kicked the monkey and clubbed it multiple times in the head and upper body.

"We're moving on," Zoo Boise Director Steve Burns said on Thursday, according to Reuters. "The court has done its job and we're continuing to do our job."

He has ever since apologized for his crime.

"I know that my actions were selfish and they impacted people at Zoo Boise, the public and Boise. I would like to formally apologize," he said, according to the Idaho Statesman.