He said Hastert must serve two years of probation and go through sex-offender treatment after release, and also pay a $250,000 fine.
Advertisement
U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin called Hastert, 74, a “serial child molester”, and said if it weren’t for his age and worsening health, he would have given the former IL congressman a lengthier sentence, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Four years ago, USA law enforcement authorities detected large withdrawals of money in cash from Hastert’s bank accounts in Yorkville, which he was evidently using to pay off one of the victims to ensure his silence. Hastert was sentenced to more than a year in prison in the hush-money case that included accusations he sexually abused teenagers while coaching high school wrestling.
Individual B was also 14 when he says Hastert abused him.
One of his victims, Scott Cross, now 53, was a member of a wrestling team coached by Hastert and he fought back tears telling of his “intense pain, shame and guilt”, telling the court: “As a 17-year-old boy, I was devastated”.
The 74-year-old Hastert read a prepared statement which he told the court that he “mistreated” some of his athletes.
J. Dennis Hastert, the disgraced former House speaker and law lobbyist who was accused of molesting at least four boys, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. We hope his testimony will provide courage and strength to other victims of other cases of abuse to speak out and advocate for themselves.
In the years since he has sought professional help and has had trouble sleeping.
On Wednesday, the judge returned to that example, saying that Hastert was willing to send an innocent man to prison to avoid getting caught. It was the first time that any of his five victims has spoken publicly.
He says he’s suffered panic attacks that led to bouts of depression, hospitalization and unemployment.
Law enforcement found that Hastert had sexually abused at least four boys while coaching sports at Yorkville High School in IL.
Cross said Hastert first called his brother directly with the request.
Dennis Hastert admits sexually abusing teenagers during his time as a sports coach at a high school in IL. According to court documents, it was during this time that the alleged sexual abuse took place.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block said Wednesday that Hastert’s conduct while a high school teacher and coach was “horrendous”.
“If Denny Hastert could do it, anyone could do it, ‘” Durkin said.
Stephen Reinboldt died from AIDS when he was 42. The former House Speaker was not charged with sexual abuse because of statute-of-limitations. Prosecutors say it was hush money to hide past sexual abuse against a student wrestler while Hastert was a high school teacher and coach.
“Mr. Hastert accepts the sentence imposed by the court today”, Hastert’s lawyer said in a statement, according to CBS in Chicago. “I respected and trusted Coach Hastert”.
Thomas Green of Washington was Hastert’s principal attorney and asked the judge to consider the whole of his client’s supposed life of service. Conspicuously absent was any mention of sexual abuse. When queried, Dennis Hastert lied to officials by stating that he was withdrawing money to buy stocks and to make investments, per USA Today.
Advertisement
His attorneys had also filed a number of letters on his behalf, including from his wife, who pleaded with the judge to consider the “terrible toll” on the family the case has taken and Hastert’s “selflessness” throughout his life. His attorneys say he has been in poor health after almost dying from a blood infection and suffering a stroke in November.
