BLOOMINGTON - A 43-year-old private swim instructor was sentenced Friday to two years of probation for growing 79 marijuana plants in the basement of his swimming school.

Robbie L. Morger pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to growing the plants in the basement of Happy Splashes Swim School, 610 E. Lincoln St., Normal.

"To everyone here and everyone that knows me and has been affected, I'm sorry," Morger said in court. "I did wrong, I'm ashamed and I'm desperately upset about it."

Morger also was sentenced to 30 hours of community service work, fines and fees and drug treatment. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday to determine the amount Morger will have to pay in one of those fines.

Assistant State's Attorney Matt Lee said Morger should face one fine of $79,000 because of the value of the plants. Defense attorney Brian Goldrick said he did not immediately have information on the "street value" fine, and he wanted an opportunity to prepare before debating the proper amount to seek.

About 20 family members and friends sat in the audience during the hearing.

Three friends testified that Morger became their friend in the time when he taught their children to swim, and their children still attend his school. Asked if they suspected Morger was ever inebriated while instructing children, the three had similar answers: "no," "never" and "absolutely not."

Larissa Kennedy of Bloomington said she had known Morger since she started taking her daughters to his classes in September 2002. She talked to the girls about the choice he made and how he would face consequences for that, she said.

"That didn't make him a bad person or bad coach," she said.

Paul Dedianous of Normal said he has taken his sons to Morger's school about 10 years, and he helps as an assistant coach. He said his sons would not consider swimming elsewhere.

Lee said Morger tested positive for marijuana use in a drug test taken after his plea. And he questioned the credibility of his statement to a probation officer that he had found some in house and used it two days before the plea.

The prosecutor said he found it disturbing that supporters had almost characterized Morger as a victim.

Morger had said after his arrest he used the drug to relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis.

In one supporter's letter, a girl who attended his classes for eight years said she understood he was only trying to find a solution for his problem so he could continue teaching, Lee said.

He said the letter leaves the impression the girl thinks Morger's actions are justified.

"The message to children is that he did what he had to do and 'We love him for it,'" Lee said.

Goldrick said his client realizes what he did was wrong and that is why he pleaded guilty. He noted his client had no prior criminal history.

And he said Morger is a private instructor, not a public school instructor who students have to go to in participating in a sport.

"I'm one of those parents as well," Goldrick said. "My child does swim there."

Morger told the judge he never gave marijuana to anyone. And he fought back tears as he said he always told boys from his swim classes not to use drugs and to live a clean life.

Judge Charles Reynard said it seemed Morger's crime was unlikely to reoccur, but he had a "squirrelly doubt" because of the consumption found in the post-plea drug screening.

Reynard said he found Morger appreciated the "mortified dissembling" of his conduct and principles. And he said the man was a good candidate for probation.