Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia

It was tough for 21-year-old Zacahary Matasich to hold back the tears in court Tuesday morning. Matasich was sentenced Tuesday for robbing and beating a Huntington man last year and leaving him to die.

"I apologize. This never should have happened," he told Eyewitness News. He also apologized to victim Tim Ferguson and his family in the courtroom Tuesday morning.

Matasich said he went to Ferguson's apartment in the Prichard building in late May 2012, beat him in the head with a glass ashtray, wrapped him in a sheet, stole his wallet, phone, and car, and fled to Tennessee. A family member found Ferguson two days later when he missed work.

Cabell County circuit judge Alfred Ferguson said, "This could well have been a murder case. I mean, fortunately, he did not die, but you inflicted enough injuries on him that you could have taken, could have taken his life."

Even with the apology to victim Tim Ferguson and his family, Cabell County circuit Judge Ferguson handed down a hefty sentence.

"I've been given a lot of consideration on this, and the maximum cap was 50 years, and I'm going to give him 40 years on this, with credit for time served," he said.

Matasich pleaded guilty to first degree robbery for the incident. He'll be eligible for parole in ten years. Ferguson continues to recover from the severe head trauma.

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A man convicted of severely beating a man and leaving him for dead was sentenced.

Zachary Matasich, 21, of Proctorville, Ohio, was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday in Cabell County. Matasich plead guilty to first degree robbery last month in connection to robbing and beating Tim Ferguson at his apartment in May 2012. Ferguson wasn't found until two days later. Matasich was arrested in Knoxville, Tenn.

Ferguson reportedly befriended Matasich and let him stay at his home.

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An update on a man severely beaten last week in Huntington. Police say Tim Ferguson was beaten and left for dead last Wednesday. Ferguson wasn't found until two days later.

Eyewitness News obtained exclusive video of Ferguson entering his apartment then two hours later, police say the suspect, Zachary Matasich from Proctorville, Ohio is seen leaving the building. Matasich was arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee Saturday night.

Ferguson worked as a bartender at the Guyan Country Club. Police say he told a co-worker he believed a friend who had been staying with him for a week was thief and he planned to confront him. Police say that friend was Zachary Matasich.

The video Eyewitness News obtained shows Ferguson walking into the lobby and onto the elevator at approximately 9:40 Wednesday night, May 30th. About 2 hours later, Matasich is seen walking through the lobby with a gym and duffel bags along with a jacket and ball cap. Police say Matasich then walked down 9th street and to the tenant parking lot where he allegedly stole Ferguson's car.

When Ferguson didn't show up for work, co-workers got concerned. Police made a gruesome discovery Friday afternoon in Ferguson's 12th floor apartment.

Detective Rob Stinnett said, "He was face down on the floor and wrapped in a sheet. It was an intense scene. His breathing rate was very low. Paramedics said he was breathing 6 breaths per minute."

Police say Ferguson was beaten with a heavy glass ashtray with jagged edges. Police also believe Matasich crushed Ferguson's head with his foot, causing severe lacerations to his temples.

Matasich is in a Knoxville jail until being extradited back to Cabell County in the next few weeks.

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