A Suffolk man was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in September to the death of his girlfriend.

William Daniel Conroy Jr., now 21 years old, received a 16-year sentence in all. Nine years were suspended.

His girlfriend, Briley Marie Compton, 17, died April 22, 2011, after she took Coricidin, an over-the-counter cold medication, and fentanyl, a prescription narcotic, both of which had been given her by Conroy.

On the day of her death, emergency dispatch received a call in reference to a teen that was in cardiac arrest. They went to the address in the 2700 block of Country Club Drive, in the Nansemond Shores neighborhood off Bennett’s Pasture Road, and found a 17-year-old female who was in distress. Police were told she had fallen from a boat in the backyard, but tests revealed the true cause of death — the deadly combination of medication.

Conroy’s sentence also included punishment for a charge of arson, an incident that occurred about three weeks after Compton’s death. He ignited a duck blind belonging to a person who had accused him of being responsible for her death.

Brian Compton, the victim’s father, said he is glad the court case is over.

“We feel that no amount of time is going to bring Briley back, obviously, but it’s some justice for the crime he committed against her,” Compton said.

In a statement read in court Monday, Compton said his daughter’s death has affected the entire family.

The crime “took a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend who was greatly loved,” he said. “In the time since her death, I’ve watched helplessly as our family has struggled with the pain, anger and grief.”

Compton’s nickname was “Sunshine,” her father said.

“You see, I feel my sunshine has been taken, and I live in constant darkness,” he said.

The pain gets worse each day, he said by phone Wednesday.

“You’d think that time heals all wounds, but it truly doesn’t when it’s your child,” he said.