FARGO - A local man convicted of drug crimes will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Kristopher Kai Hamberg, of Fargo, was sentenced on Wednesday to 55 years in prison without the possibility of parole for dealing methamphetamine and using a handgun to carry out drug crimes. Hamberg turns 40 next month.

U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb called Hamberg a "violent and dangerous young man" whose convictions and criminal history warranted a stiff sentence.

"The public, in my view, needs to be protected from this conduct," Webb said.

Hamberg was found guilty in June of conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute, and two counts of using a firearm in a drug-trafficking crime. The jury acquitted Hamberg of a charge of carrying a gun during drug trafficking.

Defense attorney John Goff said he wished he could have talked Hamberg into negotiating a plea agreement.

"We had an opportunity to do better," Goff said at the hearing.

Prosecutors claimed Hamberg threatened people with a handgun to collect money and sexually assaulted a female drug dealer. Hamberg also pistol-whipped and took a shot at another drug dealer, prosecutors said.

"I think it's reasonable to say that the pain and fear he inflicted in this time period was enormous," Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Myers said.

Hamberg, who sat with his head bowed during most of the hearing, declined an opportunity to speak. Goff told the court he would advise Hamberg on a possible appeal, but would no longer represent him.

Hamberg was acquitted of attempted murder in state court in February 2004, after Cass County prosecutors accused him of attempted murder. A federal grand jury later indicted Hamberg on the charge of using a firearm while drug trafficking.