VALPARAISO | Family and friends of Adam Davidson spent two hours Tuesday afternoon testifying about all they had done to help the 28-year-old and all they are still willing to do.

But in the end, Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper decided it was Davidson, who failed to take advantage of the opportunity to address his heroin addiction and start anew by completing the county's drug court program.

The judge responded by sentencing the Valparaiso resident to eight years behind bars, to be followed by four years on probation.

She recommended Davidson be allowed to take part in a substance abuse program while in prison.

The sentence fell short of the maximum 20 years called for by Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek.

Davidson was arrested at drug court in May when police said he showed up intoxicated and attempted to flee.

Harper said Davidson had 29 prior drug court violations, including admissions he had been drinking alcohol.

Davidson told the court he could not say what caused him to drink alcohol on the day he was arrested at court, but others said it was clear to them he was headed toward some sort of breakdown.

Harper faulted Davidson for not following the instructions of drug court to avoid developing a personal relationship and focus on his recovery instead. He began a relationship and had a child, who is just shy of 6 months old.

In response to questioning from his defense attorney, Larry Rogers, Davidson told the court he had refrained from using heroin during his 18 months in drug court and had passed 141 drug tests.

Davidson said that was the longest amount of time he remained heroin-free since he began taking the drug at 17.

Rogers objected to Polarek's call for the maximum 20-year sentence on the original charge, which involved an attempt to buy $20 of heroin for another person.

"What the state is asking you for is 20 years for $20," he said.

Davidson has several prior felony drug convictions and has pending charges as well.