Former Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle was sentenced to 15 years, eight months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child pornography and crossing state lines to pay for sex with minors, according to the Daily Beast.
Fogle, 38, arrived in federal court in Indianapolis where the presiding judge, U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, asked Fogle whether he understood the punishment he could face, to which he answered, "Yes, your honor. I do."
As part of Fogle's plea deal, federal prosecutors asked that he be sentenced to 12.5 years, while his attorneys asked for a five year sentence, reported The Los Angeles Times. However federal judges have wide discretion, and Pratt could have disregarded the recommendation and sentenced Fogle to as many as 50 years in prison.
Fogle's attorneys argued the charges were somewhat mitigated by the fact that he only had sex with teenage girls who were 16 and 17 years old, rather than young children. In their defense, they assert that longer sentences should be reserved for criminals who have sex with much younger children.
The hearing included testimony from two defense witnesses, as well as a forensic psychiatrist and a psychologist, according to CNN. It was alleged during the testimony that Fogle suffers from hypersexuality, mild pedophilia and alcohol abuse and dependency.
Fogle worked for Subway for 16 years, but the relationship was suspended in early July after law enforcement agents raided his home as part of an ongoing investigation into child pornography.
The investigation reportedly came as an offshoot of the May arrest of the former executive director of The Jared Foundation Russell Taylor, ABC News reported.
Fogle will also pay a total $14 million in restitution to 14 different victims as part of his plea deal.
