(AP) — A 22-year-old Panhandle man has been sent to prison for the crash death of his best friend.

Drew Schmaltz was given two to three years for manslaughter. Court records say Schmaltz pleaded no contest after prosecutors dropped related charges. He was sentenced on Friday in Scotts Bluff County District Court.

Judge Randy Lippstreu says Schmaltz had a drunken-driving conviction on his record and should have known better than to drive drunk in a pickup loaded with friends last July.

Schmaltz said in court that he’d been going through the toughest time of his life after losing his best friend. He said he was sorry for all the pain and suffering he’d caused.