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Ex-Homestead Mayor Bateman Sentenced

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - It was sentencing day for Steven Bateman, the former mayor of Homestead.

On Friday afternoon, a judge sentenced Bateman to 22 months in state prison as part of his public corruption case but the judge will allow Bateman to be out on bond pending his appeal.

Bateman
Ex-Mayor of Homestead, Steven Bateman. (Source: CBS4)

If he loses his appeal , Bateman will likely not begin his sentence for another year.

Bateman choked up as he told Judge Robert Luck he did not knowingly break the law.

CLICK HERE to watch Natalia Zea's report

"I didn't intentionally do it, your honor," Bateman said.  "I've had many crying days and sleepless nights. It's taken everything I've built."

Bateman's wife wept as she testified in support of her husband on Friday.

"Never in my life did I feel I would be sitting here defending my husband, knowing the person that he truly is," Donna Bateman told the judge.

A parade of character witnesses also spoke up for Bateman.

Former Virginia Gardens Police Chief Stephen Garrison said he knows Bateman to be a man of honor.

"I have the ultimate respect for him," Garrison said. "I honestly don't believe that he knowingly did anything dishonest. I just don't believe that."

On September 22nd, a jury convicted Bateman on two felony counts of illegal compensation and a misdemeanor count of illegal lobbying.

READ: Former Homestead Mayor Bateman Found Guilty In Corruption Trial

The charges against Bateman came after a CBS4 News Investigation by Jim Defede showed Bateman was on the payroll of Community Health of South Florida but did not disclose it.

CLICK HERE To Watch Gary Nelson's Report 

Prosecutors said his $125 an hour consultant job conflicted with his role as mayor of Homestead and that he used his power as mayor to try to get a pump station built that would benefit the health care company without revealing his side job.

READ: Homestead Mayor Privately Paid By Firm Seeking His Help 

Defense Ben Kuehne said Bateman acted appropriately and the pump station benefited a number of businesses.

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