Felicity Huffman has apologised to her family in a lengthy statement she released after receiving her jail sentence over the college admissions scandal.
The Desperate Housewives actress was sentenced to 14 days in prison for her involvement in the illegal scheme, after pleading guilty to paying $15,000 (£12,000) to doctor her older daughter Sophia’s university entrance exams.
After being handed the sentence, Felicity said she hopes her daughters and husband can ‘forgive her for her actions’.
‘I accept the court’s decision today without reservation. I have always been prepared to accept whatever punishment Judge Talwani imposed. I broke the law. I have admitted that and I pleaded guilty to this crime. There are no excuses or justifications for my actions. Period,’ she wrote.
Felicity went on: ‘I would like to apologise again to my daughter, my husband, my family and the educational community for my actions.’
‘And I especially want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices supporting their children,’ she said.
The actress added that she’s come to recognise her ‘flaws’ and vowed to ‘live a more honest life’ and be a ‘better role model’ to her family.
‘I have learned a lot over the last six months about my flaws as a person,’ she admitted.
‘I can promise you that in the months and years to come that I will try and live a more honest life, serve as a better role model for my daughters and family and continue to contribute my time and energies wherever I am needed.’
She concluded: ‘My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions.’
Felicity will have to pay a $30,000 (£23,800) fine, complete 250 hours of community service and have supervised release for one year.
Prosecutors had asked for a month in prison and a $20,000 (£15,900) fine.
Her legal team had asked for a year of probation in lieu of jail time, 250 hours of community service and a $20,000 fine.
Judge Indira Talwani told her: ‘I don’t think anyone wants to be going to prison.
‘I do think this is the right sentence here. You move forward and you can rebuild your life after this. You pay your dues.’
More than 50 people were charged including parents and athletic coaches; none of the children were indicted.
Huffman’s husband William H. Macy was not indicted either.
The 69-year-old actor was one of 27 of Felicity’s nearest and dearest to submit a letter to the judge presiding over her case ahead of sentencing, revealing that her relationship with her daughter’s had now deteriorated.
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