Jackson doctor Conrad Murray sentenced to four years
Murray was found guilty earlier this month after a six-week trial.
Judge Michael Pastor told the court that while Murray was legally eligible for probation, he did not think his actions showed he was suitable.
He said the evidence in the case showed a "continuous pattern of lies and deceit" by the disgraced physician.
The legal teams will return in January 2012 to discuss the prosecution's request for Murray to pay restitution to Jackson's family.
While the prosecution successfully argued for the maximum term, Murray's lawyers asked that he be kept on probation, saying he is serving "a lifetime sentence of self-punishment".
Defence lawyer Ed Chernoff said he would already be punished for life by being known as "the man who killed Michael Jackson".
In addition, Murray could still lose his licence to practise medicine.
'Trust abused'
As the sentencing hearing began, lawyer Brian Panish, a family friend of the Jackson family, read a statement on their behalf.
Expressing their sense of loss for their "son, husband, brother and father", the statement said the court should impose a suitable sentence.
"We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that demonstrates that physicians cannot sell their services to the highest bidder and lose sight of their Hippocratic Oath," Mr Panish read.
In a sentencing memorandum delivered to Judge Michael Pastor in advance of Tuesday's hearing, prosecuting lawyer David Walgren said Murray had shown no remorse for Jackson's death; Kazinform cites BBC.
To learn more go to www.bbc.co.uk
