One at a time, the three women told the court how their one-time divorce lawyer violated their trust, made them suspicious of professionals like himself, and how he took advantage of their acute psychic vulnerability.

They wanted prison for Gary Appelblatt, and they got 18 months of it Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court when Judge Gary E. Ransom imposed the term and ordered the lawyer directly into custody for his conviction on four counts of sexual battery.

"I only hope Mr. Appelblatt never has the opportunity to get his hands on anybody again," said one woman. The Bee is not identifying her because she is a sex crime victim.

Appelblatt, 58, pleaded no contest Aug. 17 to four counts related to fondling his divorce clients under the pretense of giving them medical help.

Prosecutors initially hammered him with a 13-count complaint, but shaved it to the four – plus an added charge of improperly touching – in exchange for his agreement to accept the 18 months in prison.

He tried to wiggle out of his end of the deal Tuesday, asking for probation instead. Ransom refused.

Appelblatt – whose sentencing has twice been delayed since he entered his no-contest plea more than two months ago – then asked for a few days of free time so "I can get my affairs in order."

"No, sir," the judge said. "This is not a pop quiz. You've been here before."

Besides the 18 months, Ransom also gave Appelblatt five years' probation and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Sacramento County sheriff's detectives launched their investigation of Appelblatt in February 2008 when a woman told them he made her take off her tank top and then reached into her pants during a divorce consultation. Appel- blatt, she said, had a pharmacy degree on his office wall. She said he checked her breathing with a stethoscope and pounded her knees with a rubber mallet, then conducted something along the lines of a breast exam.

A month later, the detectives arrested Appelblatt. A TV report of the arrest brought out other victims who told investigators about similar experiences with Appelblatt that dated back to 2003.

Deputy District Attorney Keith Hill said Appelblatt's sexual come-ons in the office and his use of the assorted doctor's tools showed planning and sophistication. He said the lawyer's perversions took advantage of weakened victims who sought his professional services at "terrible emotional" times in their lives.

"It was a complete legal and moral breakdown on his part," Hill said. "This is something he did for years, something he did over and over and over, to victim after victim after victim."

Defense lawyer Tom Johnson said his client "stands before you utterly humiliated as a person and as an attorney." Appelblatt, a 20-year Sacramento defense lawyer, stood up in court and apologized and said he has suffered from "unaddressed mental issues" that he did not specify. He said he expects to be disbarred this month.

"I've lost my livelihood which I have loved for the last 20 years and (am) facing loss of my freedom," Appelblatt said. He went on to ask for "mercy from this court."

Appelblatt's victims argued against a show of leniency.

"You preyed upon my life when I was most weak and most vulnerable," one of them said. "You robbed me of my dignity and self-worth."

Call The Bee's Andy Furillo, (916) 321-1141.