SAN DIEGO, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner was sentenced Monday to home confinement and mental health treatment for fondling and kissing women without their consent.
The 71-year-old, who spent nearly 20 years in Congress before being elected mayor, pleaded guilty in October to a felony false imprisonment charge and two misdemeanor battery charges for offensive behavior against three women.
He was sentenced, as part of a plea agreement, to three months of home confinement, three years of probation and mandatory mental health treatment
He was also fined $1,500, CNN reported.
"I want to apologize to my family who have stood by me during this ordeal, to my loyal staff and supporters, to the citizens of San Diego, and most sincerely to the women I have hurt and offended," Filner said Monday at the sentencing hearing.
"To all of you I make the same promise I made to my family: to earn back your trust and my integrity no matter how long it takes and no matter what I have to do. I've already started on my path and I am grateful to all those who are helping me."
Nineteen women have accused Filner of offensive behavior and he faces a lawsuit by former communications director Irene McCormack Jackson, who is seeking nearly $1.5 million.
U-T San Diego said Stacy McKenzie, a city parks manager, is also expected to file a lawsuit. She alleges Filner put her into a headlock and then fondled her breasts, the newspaper said.
