An identity thief who stole $16,000 from his victims, including well-known attorney William McCorriston, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison.

McCorriston asked Circuit Judge Richard Pollack to send a message to would-be identity thieves by making an example of Jonathan Saatkamp. "When he does his softshoe to you, as he's done in past cases, and asks for some lenient treatment, I hope he gets the steel boot of justice from you," McCorriston said.

Defense attorney Louis Ching said Saatkamp was being made "the poster child of identity theft."

"People are inconvenienced by it. They lose money on it. But they don't lose their life and they're not hurt or injured in it," Ching said.

Saatkamp, 28, who pleaded no contest, blamed his addiction to crystal methamphetamine. "That drug has done so much to my life," he told Pollack. "I'm thankful it hasn't cost me my family yet, but it has cost me my freedom."

The judge also order Saatkamp to pay restitution to his victims — McCorriston, seven other individuals and three financial institutions.

The prosecution had asked for a 20-year sentence, because Saatkamp was a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal record.

"All in all, the court sentence was fair," deputy city prosecutor Chris Van Marter said.