The Judge, in imposing the sentence, after two heavy days of victim impact testimony, said:

"The greatest sentence that can be imposed upon you, has been imposed upon you by yourself," Superior Court Judge Francis Darigan Jr. told Biechele, drawing sobs and groans from some of those in the courtroom.

There's an online poll at AOL asking whether the sentence was about right, too light or too severe. As of right now, the results are:

What do you think of the four-year sentence in the nightclub fire case?

• About right 38%
• Too harsh 31%
• Too light 30%

According to the AOL report, Biechele addressed the fire in public for the first time at his hearing today.

"I know how this tragedy has devastated me but I can only begin to understand what the people who have lost loved ones have endured," he said, gazing downward, choking back tears, his lip quivering. "I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anyone else to.... I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way," he said. "I never imagined that anyone ever would be."

Biechele's lawyers had asked the judge to show mercy and sentence Biechele to community service. They said he is the only person to accept responsibility and is truly remorseful, having written letters of apology to the families of the victims that will be given to them later.

"I ask you to consider this: Dan Biechele is the only man in this tragedy to stand up and say I did something wrong," said his attorney, Thomas Briody. "He's the only man to say 'I apologize."'

What do you think? Was the sentence about right, too harsh or too light?

The brothers who own The Station, where the fire occurred, are also facing charges.

Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, are accused of installing the flammable foam that fed the flames and have pleaded not guilty to 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter - two counts for each person killed under separate legal theories.

Michael Derderian is tentatively scheduled to go to trial on July 31; no trial date has been set for his brother. Biechele has said he Michael Derderian gave him permission to use the pyrotechnics at The Station; the Derderians have said he did not have permission.

As to thoughts of some of the victims' family members:

Though many victims' relatives were angered by Biechele's plea deal, others hold him less responsible than the club owners or fire inspectors who did not detect the flammable foam.

"It was stupid, what he did, but I know he didn't do it on purpose," said Richard Lapierre of Oxford, Mass., whose 29-year-old son, Keith, died in the blaze.

Massive civil suits are also pending. More on the sentencing with links to video and audio reports and victim statements are here. A local poll with even fewer finding Bechele most culpable is here.

Here's a picture of the fire while the band's on stage.