A U.S. Marine was found guilty on Tuesday of killing a transgender sex worker in the Philippines last year.

The Washington Post reports Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton was convicted for homicide by a Philippine court and sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison. The 20-year-old Marine was accused of choking and drowning 26-year-old Filipina Jennifer Laude in a hotel bathroom on Oct. 11, 2014.

"It's murder," prosecutor Emily de los Santos said, according to The Associated Press. "It was aggravated by treachery, abuse of superior strength and cruelty."

Prosecutors were unable to land a murder charge, which carries a life sentence, as Philippine law stipulates such a crime must involve elements of premeditation, cruelty, or "advantage of superior strength."

In addition to his 6 to 12 year sentence, Pemberton was ordered to pay $98,000 in damages to Laude's family.

Pemberton is an anti-tank missile operator from New Bedford, Mass., stationed at the time in the Philippines for joint military exercises.

According to Philippine authorities, Pemberton met Laude, formerly Jeffrey Laude, and another transgender woman named "Barbie" at a bar in Olongapo City.

Witnesses say they saw Pemberton checking in to the hotel room with Laude and later leaving, prior to the discovery of the killing. A fellow Marine also said Pemberton confided to him that he had killed a woman after discovering that she was transgender, The Associated Press reported.

According to CNN, Pemberton testified that he was "disgusted and repulsed" when he found out Laude was transgender. He pushed, slapped and punched the victim, before placing her in a chokehold.

Pemberton claims he then tried to revive her with water in the toilet bowl, but evidence indicated that Laude was drowned during the incident.

The victim's mother, Julita Laude, wasn't satisfied with the sentence, saying 6 to 12 years was not enough.

"I'm not content with the imprisonment of six to twelve years," Julita Laude said. "But what's important is he will be sent to jail."

The incident has undermined recent efforts to reestablish a military relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines, which took a toll after the Asian country's rejection of a 1992 defense treaty. The U.S. said it would cooperate with the Philippine justice system to ensure a conviction.