Thug Sentenced To Life In Prison But....

From the Reno Gazette Herald: A habitual criminal was sentenced to a life in prison term Tuesday related to grabbing a woman off the street and beating her in a sexually-motivated attack in an elevator.
Larry Louis Sykes, known as “Deaf Larry” because he cannot hear, had pleaded guilty to the Dec. 22 battery with intent to commit sexual assault of a 47-year-old woman he did not know. Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer sentenced Sykes to a life in prison term. He will be eligible for parole in two. years. http://www.rgj.com/article/20111101/NEWS01/111101042/Deaf-habitual-criminal-sentenced-life-prison-after-Reno-sexual-attack-?odyssey=mod_sectionstories
A thug is sentenced to life in prison and is eligible for parole in two years? What part of life in prison don't I understand? And eligible for parole in only two years for a brutal attack?
This is not exactly justice.