Dennis Hastert, former House Speaker was convicted for bank fraud charges and was sentenced with 15 months imprisonment. Hastert also admitted to having sexually abused his former high school students when he was still working as a teacher.
Aside from the jail time, U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin also included a two-year supervised release following his sentence. A $250,000 fine was also made part of the judgment.
Having admitted to sexually abusing former students, Hastert must also undergo sex offender treatment. He is likewise barred from contacting any of his alleged victims.
JUST IN: Former Speaker Dennis Hastert sentenced to 15 months in prison https://t.co/eV53QAx8oE
— ABC News (@ABC) April 27, 2016
Banking charges only have a maximum penalty of five years and Dennis Hastert's failing health must have been considered by Durkin when he sentenced the 74-year-old former House Speaker to 15 months. Hastert's lawyers also asked for probation, according to Huffington Post.
Durkin also said that if Dennis Hastert's health deteriorates, he may be granted compassionate care release. Hastert's admission of guilt may have also helped in lowering his sentence. He openly admitted in court that he used to mistreat students and also the athletes under his supervision when he was still working as a coach.
JUST IN: Judge Calls Dennis #Hastert A “Serial Child Molester,” Sends Him To Federal Prison https://t.co/s2tL29dJnG — NC For Bernie (@NCForBernie) April 27, 2016
Federal investigators learned of Dennis Hastert's former abuses when they discovered large cash withdrawals used to pay off one alleged victim in 2010. Although the identity of the victim was not disclosed, said victim was only referred to in court documents as "Individual A."
Scott Cross, one of Dennis Hastert's sexual abuse victims, who at the time was only 17, testified in court and said that what Hastert did to him was his darkest secret. The family of Cross was very proud of him for standing for the truth, according to NBC Chicago.
Victim testifies that Dennis Hastert sexually abused him: "As a 17-year-old boy, I was devastated" https://t.co/l4XNSDJd4g
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 27, 2016
"I'm deeply ashamed to be standing here today," Dennis Hastert said to Judge Durkin. At 74, Hastert accepted his sentence. He also emphasized that he was taking sole responsibility for the situation he was in. He apologized to all those who felt the ramifications of his actions.
