COLUMBIA--Will Folks, the former spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, has pleaded guilty in city court to criminal domestic violence.

Folks received a 30-day suspended sentence Wednesday, meaning he will avoid jail time as long as he is not convicted of a crime in the next six months. According to the plea agreement reached by Folks and his ex-fiancee Ashley Smith, the 31-year-old political consultant also will have to attend counseling in a domestic abuse center and have no contact with Smith.

In a tearful statement to Municipal Judge Lincoln Jenkins, Smith said she wanted to put the incident behind her.

"These last nine weeks have been incredibly difficult for my family and me," Smith said. "It is difficult to face the facts sometimes about the ones we love."

She said she did not believe Folks intended to hurt her. "I do not believe he wanted to put bruises on my body on the morning this happened," she said. "However I do believe that he lost control of his anger as he has many times before."

She urged Jenkins to require Folks attend counseling. Smith then took her seat, and later walked out of the courtroom, dabbing away tears.

In his statement to the judge, Folks apologized for the incident.

"I would like to apologize to everyone involved that this occurred," he said. "I am sorry for the pain and suffering they (Smith's family) have had to endure. And I am sorry for the pain and suffering my family has had to endure."

However, in a phone interview with The Associated Press following the court hearing, Folks again denied any wrongdoing. He said his apology was not directed at his ex-fiancee and said he pleaded guilty to take "the high road."

"I did not apologize to her, because I didn't do anything to her," he said.

Police say Folks kicked open the door at the couple's home and shoved Smith into a piece of furniture. Smith had injuries to her back, arm and leg, but officials say she did not receive any medical attention. She drove to the police station to report a malicious injury to the door and police became suspicious. A police report indicated that Smith did not wish to press charges, but the state has a no-drop policy for domestic violence charges.

Folks turned himself in to Columbia Police on July 23. Before the incident, he had announced he would resign from the governor's office effective Aug. 1.

Smith's attorney, Larry Richter, presented a packet of photos that he said showed a pattern of violent behavior by Folks. The photos showed damage where a brick was thrown through a window.

Folks told the Associated Press that he did throw a brick through a window of the home, because Smith had locked him out. He said it was not on the same day as the incident reported to police. He denied a history of violent behavior.

"Never, at any time, have I raised a finger against a woman in anger," he said.

In her statement to Jenkins, Smith said she did not expect the matter to be resolved in the way she wants.

"If it were possible to gain anything here today, it would be that my former fiancee would finally take responsibility for his actions," she said. "Sadly, I don't believe that will be the case."

Laura Hudson, public policy coordinator for the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, said she hopes the case will encourage domestic violence victims in the state to be more willing to report crimes. She accompanied Smith at court Wednesday.

"It's not easy to go through this process, but I hope it will be encouraged," Hudson said.

She said Folks was "lucky" the incident did not occur after January.

Under current law, the charge will be removed from his record after three years.

Beginning in January, a new state law will require domestic violence charges to stay on a person's record for five years. Mandatory minimum sentences also will take effect.

Folks continues to work in politics, running a communications consulting firm. He said he also still supports Sanford's agenda.

"This isn't stuff I just said because it was my job to say it," he told the AP. "This is stuff I believe passionately in and will continue to fight for in my private life."

Asked about the case in July, the governor said Folks' actions were unacceptable.

"Will and I have been through a lot together over the years, but this is one of those things you cannot accept in one of my boys, who I love more than anything here on Earth ... or somebody I've grown very fond to over the years," Sanford said at the time. "It's just flat out unacceptable."