CLARK COUNTY, Ohio -- A former teacher at Northeastern High School was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for a sexual relationship with a student.

Anthony Parker, 36, appeared in court and cried as he was sentenced. Authorities said Parker had been meeting the 16-year-old female student privately off school grounds.

He was arrested in January after deputies were notified of what was happening.

In court, Parker said, “What I did was wrong.”

Parker described himself as a broken man who had no idea that his actions would affect so many people.

“I have sought forgiveness from God, my family and friends, and yet I have not been able to forgive myself,” Parker said.

The former Social Studies teacher said he was ashamed and disgusted with himself. His mother-in-law appeared in court and read the following statement:

“He has stolen some of the best times in her life by manipulating her into believing he was in love with her and they were going to be together.”

The judge told Parker that he violated the trust of the community. He told the victim that she should not have had to deal with this.

The judge said, “You are in here on a beautiful summer day dealing with adult issues. You should be at the pool with your friend and having a good time.”

The victim’s family asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence in an effort to send a message to future offenders.