MARIETTA — The Warren Township drug dealer found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday.

Ryan J. Vogt, 27, of 1915 Silver Globe Road, Marietta, will be serving time behind bars for one count of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and one count of trafficking drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Jill Miller, of Beverly, the mother of victim Tyler Miller, asked for the maximum sentence of 14 years for Vogt.

“For 21 and a half years, I had the privilege and honor of being Tyler’s mother. I would give anything just to hear his voice one more time,” she tearfully told Washington County Common Pleas Judge Randall Burnworth. “The last words he said to me were ‘I love you mama, see you tomorrow’ but tomorrow didn’t come for Tyler.”

Family members of both Vogt and Miller filled the courtroom early Thursday to hear the sentencing for the man that sold Miller heroin that ultimately resulted in overdose and death.

In March, the same family members spent three long days observing the trial before Vogt was found guilty by the jury.

Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings said Vogt has not taken responsibility for his actions.

“After hearing the verdict, the defendant then had time to respond. There was a lack of remorse and lack of responsibility with what he said,” said Rings. “I do think both Ryan Vogt and the victim Tyler Miller are responsible. If Tyler Miller would have survived, someone found him and injected Narcan, he would have been charged, too. The defendant doesn’t have any prior record but also the defendant has no remorse.”

Jill Miller spokes after Rings, her voice stuttering as she told Burnworth about all of Tyler’s successes with work, his girlfriend, finances and trips to rehab. She also reminded him of all the life experiences he will miss out on after Vogt sold Tyler poison that killed him.

“I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy,” she said. “Ryan, I hope you always remember the devastation your actions caused. I request the maximum sentence so no other families have to go through this again.”

Defense attorney Rolf Baumgartel said Vogt didn’t sell Tyler heroin with an intent to cause harm.

“Tyler made the decision to use. The idea of getting all dealers to stop selling, with all due respect, isn’t going to happen. Ryan Vogt made a mistake but I don’t believe a prison sentence is necessary in this case,” he said.

Vogt declined to make a statement to the court.

“Everyone here is a witness to a tragedy,” said Burnworth. “For four years on this bench, I’ve seen families devastated and young people continuing to die from overdose. Tyler Miller was an addict and despite his effort to quit, he picked up the phone that day and texted Ryan Vogt. That’s the power that this drug has.”

This is the first case of its kind in Washington County where the drug dealer was held liable for the death of a user from overdose. Two similar cases are pending across the river in Wood County.

Vogt was given 31 days credit for time served before the trial in March. He will have five years of post-release control after serving his sentence.

“What we do here isn’t going to stop the heroin epidemic in our state or in our country,” said Burnworth.