Danny Friddle apologized in state court yesterday and said even though there is nothing he can do to undo what he did, he would do anything to take it back.

A judge sentenced Friddle, 31, to life in prison with the possibility of parole for raping his infant daughter and recording the attacks on two occasions on videotape.

Friddle pleaded guilty last December to eight counts of first-degree sexual assault, three counts of first-degree promoting child abuse and three counts of third-degree sexual assault.

He also agreed to the extended prison term rather than the maximum 20 years for first-degree sexual assault.

In return the state promises to recommend to the Hawaii Paroling Authority that Friddle serve no more than 20 years before he is eligible for parole. Friddle agreed to ask the parole board to be eligible after serving no less than 15 years.

The parole board can choose whatever minimum, if any, Friddle must serve before he is eligible for parole.

His lawyer, Jason Burks, said Friddle agreed to accept the life sentence because the judge could have run the 20-year terms for first-degree sexual assault back to back with no promise of an opportunity for parole. In accepting the life sentence, Friddle agreed that further incarceration is necessary for the protection of the public.

He has been in custody since his arrest on March 12, 2008.

The prosecutor's office said it asked for the life prison term because Friddle said he was going to plead guilty with or without a deal, and the judge could have sentenced him to probation.

Burks said Friddle is himself a victim of sexual assault and is eager to get treatment, and he urges other sexual assault victims to get help.

Honolulu police arrested Friddle after someone left the videotape with Friddle's identification at a bus stop where a woman found it and turned it in.

“;We don't know who you are. We don't know your motivations for why you did that. But thank you. You've stopped a nightmare from happening,”; said First Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin.

Burks said someone had previously broken into Friddle's car and taken the bag, along with other items that have not been recovered.