FALMOUTH, Ky (WKYT) - In a surprise move, Bass Webb withdrew his earlier request to throw out his guilty plea allowing the sentencing phase of his trial for murder to move forward.

The case involves the 2009 murder of his ex-girlfriend Bryia Runeiwicz.

This afternoon after Runeiwicz's mother Dora Clair and several other family members delivered emotional victim impact statements, the judge upheld the commonwealth's recommendation to sentence Webb to 50years in prison.

While Runeiwicz's family wanted more, her mother told WKYT's Andy Cunningham today's sentence provided some of the relief she's been fighting for more than three-years.

When asked about the how she felt after the ruling Dora Clair told WKYT: "Relief that's it's over, that the children don't have to be dragged through it, and anger because I wanted more. But in order to protect the children, i had to settle or less."

The case was moved to Pendleton County because of the extensive media coverage in Harrison County.

Webb, who smirked when he left the courtroom today, will not be able to change his plea again. He will be eligible for parole in 20 years.

Webb is also accused of murder in the death of another former girlfriend, Sabrina Vaughn, who disappeared in Montgomery County in 2003. That trial is scheduled to start in next April.