CHICAGO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A school band director in Illinois has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student.
James Alan Ciammetti, 43, the former Hammond Clark Middle/High School band director in Hammond, Ill., was arrested in 2008 after the girl's father discovered sexually explicit messages Ciammetti had sent to the girl.
Ciammetti apologized to the family of the student during his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Hammond, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.
"I apologize for the pain and suffering I have inflicted," Ciammetti said, his voice breaking as he talked about having suicidal thoughts and how he was "radioactive" to anyone around him.
He accepted responsibility for his actions, he said, calling them "irrational and indefensible."
Ciammetti pleaded guilty a year ago to one count of enticing a minor and agreed to the 30-year prison term handed down Tuesday.
