SAN ANTONIO -- Scott Hardin, accused of scamming the elderly and others by taking money for contracting jobs he never completed, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday on charges of theft and misapplication of fiduciary property.

After Judge Raymond Angelini rendered his decision to assess prison time, Hardin got an earful from his accusers.

"You had no shame," said Susie Serrano, the daughter of an elderly victim. "And you don't have it now."

Serrano stood for several minutes in front of the judge's desk and addressed Hardin.

"What I want from this court is to thank them for finally putting you behind bars," said Serrano. She hired Hardin to build a room for her elderly father. She said Hardin took thousands of dollars for the job and all she got was excuses. She since has had to pay another contractor more money to complete the room and bath addition to her father's house.

Carmen Castillo is another victim who has just a slab where her new room should be. She said Hardin took the money and did not do the work.

"Today he did not pay us back and he is in jail but he will remember that these people did not let him get away with it," said Castillo, nearly in tears outside the courtroom door.

They watched as Hardin was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

What they didn't see from him, they said, was any regret.

"No remorse, no conscience, no nothing," said Janie Gonzalez, who labels herself as a Comal County victim of Hardin's tactics.

"I don't think the gentleman has any idea of the meaning of the word contrition," agreed Tom Miller.

All came to see the sentencing to get some sort of justice for what has been taken from them.

"You work 31 years to save that kind of money and he's got it all and we're without," said another victim, Maryanne Ferguson.

It was the shear number of victims that allowed the district attorney's office to get prison time in this case.

"The pattern of conduct of continuing to take people's money and not do any work or very little work spoke for itself," said Adriana Biggs, Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit.

Even Hardin's own attorney admitted Hardin made serious mistakes.

"He should have probably quit accepting money and he didn't do that and I think he's paid an enormous price for that," said John LaGrappe, a Houston attorney.

This isn't the last time Scott Hardin will see a courtroom. Cases either have been filed or could be in Comal, Kendall and Guadalupe Counties.

The district attorney's office hopes this case sends a message to other contractors that criminal charges and jail time can result if they scam customers.