Former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for his part in a hush-money deal used to pay off a man he sexually abused decades ago.

District Court Judge Thomas M. Durkin also issued Hassert a $250,000 fine.

In court, the ex-Speaker admitted he "mistreated some of the athletes I coached."

"The thing I want to do is say I’m sorry to those I’ve hurt and misled. They looked at me, and I took advantage of them."

Hastert's high-powered friends, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, asked the court for leniency.

“We all have our flaws, but Dennis Hastert has very few," Delay wrote in a letter to Durkin. "[He] doesn’t deserve what he is going through."

But their plea fell on deaf ears. "Nothing is more stunning than having ‘serial child molester’ and ‘Speaker of the House’ in the same sentence," said Judge Durkin at sentencing.

Scott Cross, 53-year-old Chicago businessman, held back tears as he recounted how Hastert, then a wrestling coach, abused his trust.

“As a high-school wrestler I looked up to Coach Hastert—he was a key figure in my life,” Cross told the judge. "I wanted you to know the pain and suffering he caused me then, and still causes me today."

Hastert said he "didn't recall" molesting Cross, but admitted to abusing another victim, Stephen Reinboldt. His attorney requested probation, claiming the 74-year-old was “deeply ashamed” of his actions and in poor health. But Hastert's efforts to mislead the FBI's investigation, and then blame his victims, blunted any sympathy he may have garnered from the court.

Judge Durkin said he would recommend Hastert be sent to a prison hospital.