Former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard has been sentenced to prison.

Hubbard was sentenced to a total of four years in prison, eight years on probation and ordered to pay a $210,000 fine on 12 felony ethics violations.

Circuit Judge Jacob Walker handed down the sentence at a hearing in his Opelika courtroom.

Hubbard remains out on bond.

Hubbard's attorney, Bill Baxley, called the conviction a "witch hunt" and said it would be appealed.

Walker sentenced Hubbard after hearing from several character witnesses who argued against incarceration, including U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks.

A Lee County jury convicted Hubbard on June 10 on 12 felony violations of the state ethics law, finding that he used his powerful political office to illegally make $1.1 million in investments and income for his businesses.

Each of the 12 charges was a Class B felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

Walker read a separate sentence on each charge. All were split sentences ranging from five to 10 years, with up to two years of incarceration and the rest on probation. All were to run concurrently, except for one two year sentence that is to run consecutively.

Prosecutors had asked Walker for a sentence of five years in prison, followed by 13 years of probation and the maximum $360,000 in fines.

They also asked Walker to order Hubbard to pay $1.1 million in restitution and $120,000 to the state's crime victims compensation fund.

Walker did not order any restitution and ordered a lesser total amount to the crime victim's fund than prosecutors sought.

Walker offered Hubbard a chance to speak in court today, but Hubbard declined.

Lead prosecutor Matt Hart, speaking in support of the state's sentencing request, told Walker that it was important to show that powerful public officials would be held accountable.

"People are watching this case. Public officials are watching this case, and the citizens are watching this case," Hart said.

Hart mentioned the state's budget problems and this week's announcement of cuts in payments to doctors by the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Hubbard was convicted of voting for legislation with a conflict of interest, a provision added to Medicaid's budget that would have uniquely benefited American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc., which was paying Hubbard under a consulting contract.

Hart said it was important for public officials to weigh what's best for the public when making decisions about programs like Medicaid.

"But what shouldn't be part of the calculation is a corrupt payment to a public official," Hart said.

Baxley, a former state attorney general, said in more than 50 years of practicing law he has seen juries convict innocent people fewer times than he could count on one hand. Hubbard's case, he said, is an exception.

"This is a case, Mike Hubbard, where I believe with all my being after everything that we've gone through, that Mike Hubbard is absolutely innocent of every charge he's been found guilty of," Baxley said.

Four character witnesses spoke for Hubbard, including Rogers, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, Methodist minister George Mathison and banker and Auburn City Council member Gene Dulaney.

Rogers called Hubbard one of his closest friends and urged the judge to consider that Hubbard had never run afoul of the law before.

"It's my hope that this court will treat Mike Hubbard the same as it would any other first offender," Rogers said.

Rogers had appeared at a press conference shortly after a special grand jury in Lee County indicted Hubbard in October 2014. At that press conference, Rogers denounced the indictment as politically motivated.

Hart questioned Rogers about that today, asking Rogers how he could have come to that conclusion without knowing any of the grand jurors or the evidence. Hart asked Rogers if he thought the grand jurors were manipulated by the state.

"I'm certain that's what happened," Rogers said.

That prompted applause from a few people in the packed courtroom, which Walker quickly squelched.

The most emotional character testimony came from Dulaney, who said he had known Hubbard since 1987 and said they had been in the same Sunday school class for 25 years.

"I would say he's probably one of my two best friends in the entire world," Dulaney said.

Dulaney, from the witness stand, briefly addressed Hart, responding to Hart's assertion to the judge that Hubbard has not taken responsibility for his actions.

"With all due respect, you don't have a clue as to what Mike Hubbard feels," Dulaney said.

"I've seen the heartbreaking pain that this ordeal has caused his family," Dulaney said.

Fuller said he had known Hubbard 30 years and had never questioned his honesty and integrity.

"I believe he's a good man," Fuller said.

In response to Hart, Fuller said he was a partner with Hubbard in a business.

Mathison, the former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Auburn, which Hubbard attends, said he knew that Hubbard had already suffered greatly through the ordeal of the case.

"I personally don't think incarceration for a man like Mike serves any purpose," Mathison said. "He is a good man."

Prosecutors did not speak to reporters after today's sentencing.

Attorney General Luther Strange, who had recused himself from the case, sent out a statement saying that the sentence of Hubbard to prison time was a turning point for the state.

"No longer can elected officials expect to disregard our laws and not pay a penalty," Strange said.

Hubbard was convicted of:

Voting on legislation with a conflict of interest that would benefit American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc., a consulting client.

Receiving money from a principal, American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc., through a consulting contract.

Receiving money from a principal, Edgenuity, through a consulting contract.

Using his office for personal gain through a consulting contract with Capitol Cups, a business owned by Robert Abrams.

Lobbying the state Department of Commerce for consulting client Robert Abrams.

Lobbying the governor's office for consulting client Robert Abrams.

Using state personnel to benefit consulting client Robert Abrams.

Soliciting and receiving money from a principal, former Business Council of Alabama Chairman Will Brooke, a $150,000 investment in Craftmaster Printers.

Soliciting and receiving money from a principal, James Holbrook/Sterne Agee, a $150,000 investment in Craftmaster Printers.

Soliciting and receiving money from a principal, Great Southern Wood President Jimmy Rane, a $150,000 investment in Craftmaster Printers.

Soliciting and receiving money from a principal, Hoar Construction President Robert Burton, a $150,000 investment in Craftmaster Printers.

Soliciting and receiving a thing of value from a principal, former BCA Chairman Will Brooke, help obtaining clients for Auburn Network and financial advice for Craftmaster Printers.

This story was updated multiple times. Edited at 8:14 a.m. on July 9 to correct quote from George Mathison, changing the word "services" to "serves."

