Tamil Adams will be in prison until he's 51.

The 17-year-old, of Dolton, was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday by Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. for the murder of Maria de la Torre. Adams will receive one-year credit for time already served. He also will have three years of mandatory supervision after he's released.

Adams was found guilty of shooting to death the 33-year-old De la Torre on May 22, outside her Streator home.

When asked if he wanted to make a statement in court before Ryan announced his sentence, Adams replied "nope."

The La Salle County State's Attorney's Office had requested Adams be sentenced to 45 years. Adams' lawyers had requested a 20-year sentence.

Ryan took into consideration Adams' age, noting the research conducted regarding the age, level of maturity and potential for rehabilitation of defendants who are not yet adults.

"We wanted a sentence in the 40s," said La Salle County State's Attorney Karen Donnelly, following the sentencing. "The judge took into consideration his age that at the time of the murder he was 16."

In calling for a harsher sentence, Prosecutor Greg Sticka said Adams had developed a theme of threats, weapons and violence.

Sticka brought witnesses to the stand from the La Salle County Detention Home to talk about an incident where Adams had attacked a juvenile detention officer, then threatened him shouting "next time you die," after receiving a negative mark against his name, which restricts privileges at the detention home. A surveillance video was shown of the incident.

Sticka also brought to the stand Police Det. Jason Moore of the Streator Police Department to talk about a hip hop video on YouTube where Adams had displayed what he believed to be actual guns.

Adams had a prior record of aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon.

"The defendant has shown himself to be a threat to the public," Sticka said.

Sticka said Adams had referred to himself as a leader in pre-sentencing documents, noting he was in the driver's seat of a stolen vehicle and had access to guns.

"He should be held accountable as such," Sticka said.

Adams was represented Thursday by Paul Meyers and Jeffrey Marx of Callahan and Associates, of Chicago.

Adams' attorney asked the judge to consider Adams' age when handing down a sentence.

"No one in this courtroom is the same person they were when they were 16," Meyers said. " ... He's not a man. He's a kid."

According to testimony and evidence from Adams' trial, Adams and Hashim Waite, 24, Chicago, drove from Chicago to Streator to rob De la Torre's teenaged son of marijuana and money. During the course of the attempted robbery, De la Torre came home and was shot twice in her driveway, as the robbers were fleeing. Adams and Waite jumped in their car and left. They were later caught, after a police chase. Ashanti Roberts, 22, Chicago, accompanied the pair from Chicago to Streator, but stayed in the car during the shooting.

Defense attorney Meyers asked Ryan to consider Waite's influence, as an adult, in the murder. Waite had testified during the trial it was his gun that was used. Meyers said Waite was the adult in this incident and without his influence there would be no murder.

Meyers referred to the YouTube video shown Thursday as juvenile in nature and Marx said the guns were props for a music video, saying the prosecution could not confirm they were actual guns.

Adams' grandmother and mother testified to Adams' character. His grandmother called him a positive, creative and intelligent child. His mother said she has been praying for him and "praying for everybody," including the victim and her family.

When handing down his sentence, Ryan said he understands the argument made about Waite's influence in the case, as well as Adams' age.

Ryan said in a short period of time from 2016 to 2018, Adams was a different person who resorted to the immature response of violence.

"He came a long way, the wrong way," Ryan said.

Donnelly spoke with the victim's family after the sentencing and said they are satisfied with the sentence. She thanked prosecutors Greg Sticka and Matt Kidder for handling the case.

The defense had filed motions for a new trial prior to sentencing that were denied by Ryan. Adams' attorneys said a juror told them after jury pooling they were not aware they could vote not guilty against the majority, but they did not say so in affidavit, despite the attorneys' numerous requests for them to do so.

The other defendants in the May death of De la Torre have court proceedings scheduled. Roberts is scheduled to begin bench trial Thursday, May 9, and Waite has a status hearing set for Friday, May 24.