Former Civil Rights Leader Gets 15 Years for Sex With Daughter

"To some extent, I have to grow up and realize that's not necessarily what you're going to get," Mills said.

The felony charge grew out of a discussion among some of Bevel's grown daughters at a family reunion in 2004 about experiences with their father when they were children. The daughters confronted Bevel, who said he performed sex acts to guide and train them, prosecutors said. In September 2005, Mills filed a complaint with Leesburg police. She testified that her father began sexually abusing her when she was 6 and that she became an alcoholic.

During the trial, Bevel said repeatedly that he did not have sex with Mills. He said he has had 16 children through relationships with seven women and testified that as a minister and teacher, he has often educated people, including his children, on the "science" of sex and marriage.

Lawless yesterday called Bevel "a bad man who has done some good things in his life."

Hoffman countered that Bevel will not receive adequate medical care while incarcerated, that he is not a risk to the community and that not being incarcerated would give him a better chance of reconciling with his family.

"Obviously, we're very disappointed," Hoffman said of the sentence.

Bevel appeared yesterday in an orange and white striped uniform, moving slowly to and from the witness stand with his ankles chained. The gray-bearded, diminutive man said just before being sentenced that the legal process had failed to reveal the truth.

Outside court, Mills said she has forgiven her father.

"Forgiveness is not about him; it's about my peace of mind," she said. "The reality is, he doesn't forgive himself."