Olathe ? A man who killed a Good Samaritan was sentenced Wednesday to the maximum punishment allowed because he had not taken advantage of several chances to straighten out his life, a judge said.

Brad Joseph Jones, 27, of Gardner, was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Jonathan U, who tried to stop Jones from trying to steal a woman’s purse last year. Jones was sentenced to another 14 years and six months for two purse snatchings.

Jones, who stole purses to support a drug habit, likely will not be eligible for parole for about 30 years, said Assistant Dist. Atty. Rick Guinn.

Johnson County District Judge John Anderson III said the criminal justice system had given Jones several chances to kick his drug habit, and the priority now has to be protecting the public from him.