COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Bob Taft has pleaded no contest to ethics charges.

Taft is the first Ohio governor to be charged with a crime while in office, NewsChannel5 reported.

A Franklin County judge ordered Taft to pay a $4,000 fine and issue a meaningful apology to the people of the state of Ohio and to all state workers. That should be done by e-mail within seven days, the judge ordered.

"You have a duty to set an example for all citizens," Judge Mark Froehlich said. "I want them to know you are sorry for what you have done."

No jail time was ordered.

Before the sentencing, Taft issued an apology for his actions.

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"I have failed to live up to those high expectation and the expectations of the public. I am very disappointed in myself," Taft said.

"There are no word to express the deep remorse that I feel over the embarrassment. I offer my sincere and heartfelt apology. I hope the people will understand that these mistake were done unintentionally," he said. "I accept full responsibility for this mistake, and I'm sorry."

Click here to see the full text of the apology Taft issued shortly after his sentencing.

Taft was charged with four misdemeanors Wednesday that alleged he did not report gifts on annual disclosure forms.

The gifts included golf outings, dinners and hockey game tickets -- 52 gifts in all, totaling more than $5,800.

Taft has long supported high ethical standards and wasn't afraid to tell people about it, even speaking at an ethics conference in May, NewsChannel5 reported.

Three years ago, Taft asked the state turnpike executive director to resign after learning he had violated ethics laws by accepting gifts.

Two undisclosed gifts in question include golf outings with coin dealer Tom Noe, a Republican fundraiser under investigation for his handling of a $50 million investment of state money in rare coins.