666 years

I was reading the newspaper today and I happened to notice the following article. Apparently, a New Mexican man was charged with 222 counts of "possessing and distributing kiddie porn." The article later read, "If he is guilty, he will face up to 666 years in prison." Now, being on the front page of the newspaper for having 222 counts of illegal activity charged against one is enough to make somebody realize "yes, I did do something bad". Do they really have to go so far to rub it in his face with 666 years?? I'm thinking about a possible movie based on the subject: In the end of the court's verdict, the camera zooms in on the judge as the background lights similtaneously dim. The judge then looks angerly upon the defendant, "...I therefore DAMN you to prison for the following SIX-SIX-SIX years!". The camera suddenly zooms closer in on the judge every time he shouts the word 'six'. Yes, I can see that up for a few awards actually.
Another thing that came to me when I read the article. Nobody is gonna live for 666 years! Why can't they just say "he faces life in prison", instead they pretend like they actually mathmaticly figured out how many years he should spend there. I guess they wouldn't be able to throw in that satanic refference if it was only "...life in prison". Still I think it's ridiculous. I can see the defendant's lawyer telling him "Just plead guilty. With good behavior we might be able to get it down to only 566 years or so."
And another wondering: If he is actually jailed for the time of 666 years, will they actually physicallykeep him in jail for the full time? That's the only decent answer I can come up with for giving him hundreds of years in jail instead of just saying 'life'. With that type of wording, it seems like justice wouldn't be served unless his body actually remained in jail for the full sentance. New inmate: "Uh, I think my cellmate is... dead", Guardkeeper: "Yeah, that sick bastard still has another 521 years to go - And he deserved every single one of them!"