Wednesday morning was emotionally charged for the family of a Vallejo teen who perished in a Napa motor home fire more than two years ago.

Family and friends of Rachel Ellis packed a Napa courtroom, leaving standing room only as they observed the sentencing of Joben Lombardi for his role in the 13-year-old’s death.

Sitting in the front row, Ellis’ mother, grandmother and other family members sobbed and glanced frequently at Lombardi, 27, as Napa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kroyer sentenced him to 18 years in state prison for manslaughter and other counts. The girl died in June 2005, at Lombardi’s home on Dry Creek Road.

Last October Lombardi pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, lewd acts upon a child under 14, and two counts of furnishing methamphetamine to a minor.

Earlier this year, Lombardi was facing a murder charge when he agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter.

At Wednesday’s sentencing, Ellis’ family, many wearing T-shirts and buttons with her picture, glared at Lombardi as he was escorted into court by the bailiff.

Only a few members of Lombardi’s family sat in the audience.

The soft sounds of crying could be heard as Ellis’ grandmother, Joyce VanBooven, read a poem she had composed in memory of her granddaughter.

“I call this ‘A poem to Rachel with love,’” VanBooven said. When she was finished, she looked over at Lombardi, back at the judge and said, “What goes around, comes around. He will get what he deserves in prison.”

Ellis’ mother, Mara Hale, also made a statement.

Sitting before Kroyer, Hale started to address her comments directly to Lombardi. Kroyer told her the protocol was to talk to the bench, adding, she could speak what ever was on her mind.

Speaking very softly, Hale said, “I will never have closure and I want him to hear what I have to say. I thought I could talk directly to him. I want him to tell me how he could let such a beautiful little girl burn to death. I will never be the same. I lost my best friend.”

Napa County Deputy District Attorney Paul Gero, who prosecuted the case, told the court he hoped Lombardi would have the courage to apologize to the family.

When it was his turn, Lombardi stood up and faced Ellis’ family.

“I’m sorry for your loss. But it’s not like you think. I’m not a murderer. That’s not me,” he said.

Kroyer called Ellis’ death a horrible tragedy for everyone involved.

“This has been a difficult case ... to try to accomplish justice. And there is no such thing as perfect justice,” Kroyer said.

After the hearing, VanBooven told the Register, “His apology meant nothing. It was all about him. He has not a single ounce of remorse.”

Lombardi’s mother, Karen Kramer, said Ellis’ death “was just a terrible accident. Joben is innocent. And that’s the God’s honest truth.”

Ellis ran away from her Vallejo home to Napa in June 2005 and was hired by an agency to sell subscriptions to the Vallejo Times-Herald. About four days before she died, she met Lombardi, his brother Kyle and one of their friends in front of the 7-Eleven store on Sierra Avenue in Napa, where Ellis was selling newspapers.

She left with the trio, and spent the next few days living in a motor home parked near the Lombardi residence in the 2200 block of Dry Creek Road.

During the preliminary hearing in the case, witnesses testified that Ellis had taken an extreme amount of methamphetamine, most likely rendering her unconscious before she perished in the fire.

John DeHaan, a forensic fire expert, testified that when Ellis’ body was recovered she had been standing upright in the shower stall in the motor home. He said she was overcome by the intense heat and smoke from the fire.

DeHaan concluded Ellis was unconscious when she was placed in the shower, and the fire was deliberately set.

Lombardi told sheriff’s detectives he was with Ellis the night of the fire, but left her asleep on a blanket in the RV with a candle burning. He said he went to the main house and went to bed.

Lombardi will have to register as a sex and narcotic offender for the rest of his life. As part of his plea bargain, Lombardi waived his right to file an appeal.

Hale has filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against several people, including Lombardi, his grandmother Rosalie Lombardi and Ellis’ father, Scott Brian Ellis.

The civil suit claims that Hale’s family has suffered the “loss of love, affection and support due to the death of Rachel Ellis.”