Noon update:
A federal judge has sentenced Dennis Hastert to 15 months in prison in a hush-money case that centered on accusations that the former U.S. House speaker sexually abused at least four students when he was a high school wrestling coach.
Judge Thomas M. Durkin announced the sentence Wednesday. Hastert also must undergo sex offender treatment, two years of supervised release after his time behind bars and a $250,000 fine to go to a crime victims fund.
He pleaded guilty last fall to violating banking law as he sought to pay someone referred to as Individual A $3.5 million to keep sex abuse secret.
Before he sentenced Hastert, Durkin described the 74-year-old Illinois Republican as a "serial child molester," and that "accusing Individual A of extorting you was unconscionable."
He was the nation's longest-serving GOP speaker and was second in the line of succession to the presidency.
EARLIER:
Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has told a federal courtroom that he "mistreated" some of the athletes he coached decades ago as a high school teacher and that he's "deeply ashamed."
The 74-year-old Republican spoke during his sentencing hearing Wednesday in federal court in Chicago. He said, "I mistreated some of my athletes that I coached," and that "I'm deeply ashamed to be standing before you today."
Hastert pleaded guilty in October to violating banking reporting laws as he sought to pay someone $3.5 million.
Hastert's plea deal sets out a sentencing guideline ranging from probation to six months behind bars. But the judge could impose a harsher sentence.
Check back with ArkansasOnline for updates on this developing story and read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.