MIAMI -- An ex-college police officer convicted of sexual assault on an 18-year-old was sentenced Wednesday, almost a month after originally scheduled.

Former Florida International University police officer Frederick Eugene Currie was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury in January found him guilty of sexually assaulting the woman during a check of her vehicle July 8, 2005.

Currie, 35, was scheduled to be sentenced March 9, but that date was pushed forward until March 22. His sentencing was once again postponed until Wednesday so defense attorneys could have sufficient time to gather enough character witnesses to speak on Currie's behalf.

It didn't seem to help.

"I'm going to ask the court to please have mercy on me," Currie asked following a parade of pleas from his brother, mother, several police officers who served with Currie and his girlfriend.

The judge recognized Currie's accomplishments as a father of four and a former Marine, but said he levied the sentence on an officer who "abused" his power and had gotten off on four domestic violence charges in the past 10 years.

The woman and her boyfriend and had been parked in the vehicle and were partially unclothed when Currie approached them.

She said Currie's search, out of the sight of her boyfriend, became a sexual assault. Currie denied the allegation, saying he never did anything inappropriate.

There was little physical evidence presented in the case, but the jury did not buy Currie's explanation of what happened.

"There was no DNA found in my case," the victim said after the sentencing. "There was not physical evidence, but my testament was enough for them to know that it was real and that it really did happen."

Currie was found guilty of sexual and simple battery.

After the verdict, he physically collapsed and had to be assisted by officers and family members. A relative of his also passed out in the hallway outside of the courtroom.

Currie maintained his innocence during the sentencing, and his attorney said he plans to appeal.