The husband of televangelist Juanita Bynum pleaded guilty Tuesday to assaulting her, was sentenced to three years’ probation and then turned to her and apologized.Thomas W. Weeks III, a minister known to his followers as Bishop Weeks, turned after his sentencing to address Bynum, who sat in the second row of the Fulton County courtroom gallery.”I want to apologize to my wife for all she’s had to go through,” he said.

Bynum nodded in response and quietly thanked him. The two later walked out of the courthouse together.”They are in communication and working on their relationship and the status of their marriage,” said Ed Garland, Weeks’ attorney in the criminal case…Weeks initially pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and making terroristic threats. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of aggravated assault.

Weeks must undergo violence and anger counseling and complete 200 hours of community service that cannot be church-related. He had been barred previously from communicating with Bynum, but that restriction has been lifted. His record will be cleared if he completes the terms of his sentence.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said during a brief press conference that a personal plea from Bynum initiated by Weeks’ grandfather convinced prosecutors not to pursue jail time for Weeks.

“Many people in her situation would’ve been asking for him to be put in jail,” Howard said, calling Bynum’s request “courageous.”

Bynum said that she was overwhelmed by Weeks’ grandfather’s plea.

“I don’t believe my husband is a criminal,” she said. [source]