EDWARDSVILLE - A former band director at Alton High School was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for engaging in sex with one of his students.

Matthew H. Lang, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this year of one count of criminal sexual assault. A second count of criminal sexual assault was dismissed, as were two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. All of the charges alleged that Lang had consensual sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl at the school, at his home and at her home.

"My actions have not been wise and I just used poor judgment and I apologize for the things I have done and the pain and trouble I have caused," Lang said before he was sentenced by Circuit Judge Charles Romani.

Madison County prosecutor John Fischer and defense attorney Ben Allen stipulated to a statement by Lang's ex-wife that she and Lang began a consensual sexual relationship in 2001 when she was a 17-year-old student at O'Fallon Township High School and he was the band director there. She said the relationship continued while she was in college and they eventually married.

Fischer said the woman divorced Lang last year shortly after he was accused in the Alton case.

Fischer recommended a maximum 15-year prison term.

"He was her teacher, he was her mentor and he took advantage of the relationship," Fischer said. "He violated that trust in the most horrible way possible."

Allen said Lang's relationship with the O'Fallon student lasted for years and led to marriage.

"You might characterize that as a love affair as much as anything else," Allen said.

He said Lang had fully cooperated with sheriff's detectives since they first confronted him. Allen said Lang's conduct was reprehensible but was not of a nature that would warrant a term at the high end of the four-to-15 year sentencing range.

Romani said the victim submitted a statement to the court that said she was doing well and had "moved on" with her life.

Lang must serve 85 percent of the six-year sentence but, with credit for time spent in the Madison County Jail, should be eligible for release in about five years.

Long was not charged over the relationship he had with the O'Fallon student he later married. Fischer said the statute of limitations probably barred charges in that case.