Outside court, Kevin Otto's attorney would only say he's remorseful. "We already said apologies to the families before now. We'll let justice play out," said defense attorney Aviva Jeruchim.

Kevin Otto, the owner of Atlantic Drain Service, was sentenced to two years after two workers drowned during a South End trench collapse in October 2016.

Both drowned despite frantic rescue efforts. Prosecutors said Otto, 45, had a history of safety violations and should have installed cave-in protections, known as trench boxes, at the site.