ST. ALBANS -- Former Republican state Sen. Norman McAllister, who was convicted of setting up a deal in which his tenant would exchange sex to pay bills, will avoid jail time.

McAllister will instead serve on a work crew for 25 days and serve nine to 12 months on probation. He must also submit to a sex offender assessment.

The former senator faced up to one year in prison for the conviction of prohibited acts, a misdemeanor.

McAllister, 66, of Highgate Center was found guilty in July of setting up his female tenant to have sex with one of his acquaintances for money to pay off her electric bill. During the trial a jury of seven men and five women acquitted McAllister of two other charges — sexual assault, which carries a potential life sentence, and another count of prohibited acts.

At the courthouse Tuesday McAllister continued to maintain he is innocent.

"I'm saying the same thing I've been saying from the beginning: I'm innocent of all of it," McAllister said. "I think they got this one wrong. We're going to appeal it."

During the hearing, the former tenant who accused McAllister of the criminal conduct read from a statement. She spoke through tears, saying McAllister needed to be held accountable for his actions.

The Burlington Free Press does not name people who say they are the victims of sex crimes without their permission.

"I kept wondering what made him pick me," the woman said. She also accused McAllister of lying under oath and not taking responsibility for his conduct.

"As hard as it has been to relive every detail of the nightmare I lived, I feel it has been worth it to get to where we are today," the woman said. "And as difficult as it has been to relive those events, being able to face my accuser to let him know face to face that what he did is wrong, and that there are consequences for his crime made it all worth it."

Letters submitted to the court regarding McAllister's character and service were also taken into consideration. Sen. Peg Flory described McAllister as a good friend and devoted husband. She said McAllister was devastated and lost when his wife died.

"In summary, Norm is a genuinely good, caring person who is incapable of intentionally hurting anyone," Flory wrote. "Although naive and a bit cavalier with comments, he is someone who folks can trust and rely on and, most assuredly, is not a 'danger to society.'"

Another tenant of McAllister's, Melinda Hulburt, wrote to the court saying that McAllister had never acted inappropriately to her or her family. She said she has been his tenant since 2004.

"I feel that he has served his time already," Hulburt wrote, adding that she believed his loss of his Senate seat and the media attention were enough punishment.

On Tuesday, Franklin County Deputy State's Attorney John Lavoie asked the judge to sentence McAllister to nine to 12 months in prison, while Katims argued for a non-incarcerative sentence.

Judge Martin Maley ultimately decided a probation sentence with some work crew was most appropriate. Maley acknowledged McAllister's record of service with the Vermont Legislature — 10 years with the House and five years with the Senate — but questioned how someone described as so generous and compassionate could find themselves in this situation. He dismissed the idea that McAllister was naive or vulnerable because of his wife's death.

"The court doesn't believe Mr. McAllister is an evil person," Maley said. However, he added, "It's a situation where Mr. McAllister had all the power and the victim in this case had little to none."

McAllister's lawyer Bob Katims asked the court to postpone when his client would start his sentence, pending an appeal. The judge allowed the state 14 days to respond to the motion and allowed postponement of the sentence until the issue is settled.

In August a judge denied McAllister's request for an acquittal or a new trial. Katims said Tuesday the defense is confident the Vermont Supreme Court will overturn McAllister's conviction.

"It may take a little while, but we're confident in that," Katims said.

State prosecutors left the courthouse without comment. An attempt to reach them after the hearing was unsuccessful.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.