A judge has sentenced an east-central Illinois man to 36 years in prison for trying to hire a hit man to kill his ex-wife and the woman's boyfriend.

A jury found 40-year-old Shan Fieldman of Collum guilty in May of 2 counts of solicitation of murder for hire. Fieldman was sentenced Tuesday. Fieldman maintained his innocence during the court hearing and said the case was a "horrible misunderstanding."

Fieldman also apologized to his family and his ex-wife's family.

Fieldman and an accomplice, Talia Fonce were arrested in July 2010 and accused of offering $7,500 to an undercover state police agent to kill Fieldman's ex-wife and her boyfriend. Fonce was sentenced to 35 years in prison in January.