Former Alabama House of Representatives Speaker Mike Hubbard is asking the court for an early release from prison after serving one year of a 28-month prison sentence.

The disgraced former speaker in 2016 was convicted on 12 of 23 ethics charges brought against him by the state relating to abuses of office, with one charge later being tossed by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Hubbard’s attorney on Friday petitioned the court to grant his client early release, claiming his punishment far exceeds the sentence typically handed to others who have found themselves in similar criminal situations.

In a letter sent to the court, Hubbard apologized for the pain his conviction has caused. According to Montgomery’s WSFA 12, Hubbard acknowledged that his conviction “damaged the public trust placed in elected officials” and has “harmed society as a whole.”

The former Auburn lawmaker further stated that he desires to “rebuild trust with those who have lost faith in [him] and the entire political system.”

After being found guilty by a Lee County jury for using his office for personal gain, Hubbard began the appeals process which lasted until September of last year, when he reported for jail and began serving his sentence.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL