VIDALIA, La. — It has been 19 months and 13 days since Concordia sheriff’s Deputy Jim Boyd was shot in the doorway of his Monterey home, and not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about it. And after undergoing a dozen surgeries to repair his jaw — which was hit, along with Boyd’s neck and hand, by shots from a .22-caliber pistol used in the shooting — he still has one surgery to go.

But the Wednesday sentencing of Jeremy Passman, 21, to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the shooting, has provided Boyd with much-needed closure.

&uot;I’m glad it’s over,&uot;&160;Boyd said following the sentencing, which was handed down by Seventh Judicial District Judge Leo Boothe. &uot;Everything’s done. And it’s a punishment we all can live with.&uot;

Passman and Elby Merck, 20, also of Monterey, were accused shooting Boyd, 44, on July 3, 1998 at Boyd’s Monterey home.

One year ago, Passman had been allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of conspiracy in exchange for testifying against Merck in a trial set for last December.

But before the trial could be held, Merck pleaded guilty in October to first-degree attempted murder and was sentenced to 35 years by Boothe.

Assistant District Attorney Ronnie McMillan had originally hoped Passman could be sentenced soon after Merck, perhaps in November.

Passman’s attorney, Phyllis Mann of Alexandria, then asked for delays in sentencing and, after that, scheduling conflicts made it difficult to set a sentencing date, McMillan said Wednesday.

But Boyd said the delay in sentencing didn’t disturb him.

&uot;I&160;knew (Passman) would be in jail until sentencing and for a long time after that,&uot;&160;Boyd said. &uot;The main thing is that it’s over now.&uot;