The man convicted of severely abusing a little girl is headed to prison.

A judge sentenced Michael Stoner to nearly 7 ½ years in prison Thursday.

Stoner – who is a survivor of the I-35 W bridge collapse in Minneapolis – was convicted in July of severely abusing his fiancé’s young daughter.

Emmaline Manning, 3, was taken to a hospital in August of 2007 with a massive head injury and bruises in various stages of healing. Emma’s grandfather told the court she is blind and unable to eat, walk, talk or sit up on her own. Stoner claimed the girl was hurt after she fell down the stairs.

On Thursday, the judge described Stoner’s personality as “Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde” – proclaiming him an angry, frustrated and dangerous young man.

“While we can fix bridges, we cannot unfortunately in this case fix a life that has been irreparably and permanently damaged,” said Judge Scott Needham.

“I know my son. He loves Emma. He loves Crystal. He changed his life when Crystal came into his life and he would not harm Emma or any other child,” said Stoner’s mother, Marie Stoner.

Stoner told the judge he failed in his responsibility to keep Emma safe.

His fiancé, and the girl’s mother – Crystal Manning – told the court Stoner is not a monster.