A former Chilton County sheriff’s deputy and schools employee who pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual abuse in 2015 was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison.

David Hubbard, 41, appeared before Chilton County Circuit Judge Ben A. Fuller for his sentencing at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Hubbard, dressed in a light pink jail jumpsuit, with chains around his wrists and ankles, stood before Fuller as several individuals representing the victims in the case, as well as a victim, addressed the judge about the negative aftermath Hubbard’s actions have had on their lives.

Hubbard entered a negotiated guilty plea in December 2015 to rape in the second degree, four counts of a school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under the age of 19, and one count of enticing a child for immoral purposes, according to court records.

Hubbard was originally indicted on 47 counts including 42 felony charges and five misdemeanors.

Chris Newton, speaking on behalf of one victim, told the judge his family has been “slandered” and “bullied” since details of the case emerged.

“This man sought to cause harm,” Newton said (statements altered to remove his relationship to the victim). “This was not an accident. This man, and his wife, set a trap. It was pre-meditated.”

Newton asked Fuller to be a voice for the victims and the community that Hubbard’s actions would not be tolerated.

“The most valuable asset a man has is his children,” Newton said. “My child will have to live with this forever.”

Jessica Hubbard, David Hubbard’s sister, addressed the judge, saying David Hubbard was someone she trusted for more than 40 years.

“I hope David finds the scars that he has given to the victims in the case,” Jessica Hubbard said.

District Attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit Randall Houston said he attended a program Wednesday morning at Jefferson State Community College for juniors and seniors from high schools throughout Chilton County titled, “Choices Matter.”

“What was ironic to me was this was something David Hubbard would have been involved in,” Houston said. “The topic was ‘choices matter,’ and I am thankful that the choices made by David Hubbard did not affect more children. It is sad we are here. David Hubbard was a role model, but he let the community down, he let the children in this community down, and he let his family down.”

After hearing some of the statements representing the victims, David Hubbard addressed the court.

“I messed up,” Hubbard said. “I had one year where I just destroyed everything. For 19 months, I have rotted in a jail cell. I’m sorry to everyone involved in my case. I am going through immoral hell because of what I did. I apologize for letting down my community.”

Fuller told the court he had given a lot of thought into the case, and told Hubbard he could not get past Hubbard’s betrayal.

“To the students who admired you, who liked you, who thought you were a good guy, you betrayed them,” Fuller said. “I have thought about this case a lot. I think about it when I am cutting grass sometimes. I can’t understand how a man so trusted could make a decision to engage in this kind of conduct with children in this county.”

Fuller sentenced Hubbard to 20 years for one count of rape in the second degree, 20 years for each of the four counts of a school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under the age of 19, and 10 years for one count of enticing a child for immoral purposes.

All sentences will run concurrently.

Hubbard was also sentenced to pay $10,000 on each count and all court costs associated with the case.

Fuller also told Hubbard he was going to write a letter to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole that Hubbard should not be released short of 20 years.

“I want them to know that Ben Fuller thinks you ought to serve 20 years,” Fuller said.

Hubbard’s charges came after a June 19, 2014, wreck on Alabama Highway 145 near Jefferson State Community College in Clanton, which involved three vehicles and resulted in the death of an Alabaster man and two others being hospitalized.

The wreck was the initial link to David Hubbard and his wife, Rebecca Hubbard.

After an investigation into the wreck, David and Rebecca Hubbard were arrested in July 2014 and were first charged with sexual contact with a student under the age of 19 and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

As news of the initial charges were released, other minors came forward and alleged that they had also been subjected to inappropriate and illegal contact with David and Rebecca Hubbard.

The two were indicted by a special grand jury in Chilton County held in November 2014 on 77 total charges.

In August 2015, Rebecca Hubbard, 36, entered a negotiated guilty plea to two counts of rape in the second degree, one count of enticing a child for immoral purposes, one count of a school employee having sexual contact with a student less than 19, and one count of a school employee committing a sexual act with a student less than 19, according to court records.

Rebecca Hubbard is scheduled to be sentenced March 9 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Prosecutors asked Fuller if they could submit the statements made representing the victims in the case at Rebecca Hubbard’s sentencing to avoid bringing the victims back to the hearing.

Fuller said he would allow the statements to be submitted.