By Emily Matesic

Appleton, WI (WBAY/CNN) - A former district attorney in Wisconsin says a sex addiction and prescription painkillers led him to make advances toward a woman whose case he was prosecuting.

He's pleaded no contest to six counts of misconduct.

A remorseful Ken Kratz pleased for leniency when addressing the judge at his office of lawyer regulation hearing in Appleton Tuesday.

Kratz, representing himself, called three character witnesses to testify on his behalf.

All three witnesses did not condone Kratz's actions, but said they never saw any kind of inappropriate conduct when they worked with him.

"I personally was very let down. I had almost a sense of betrayal. How could this man do this, this man that at least everyone I was familiar with in law enforcement looked up to," said John Dedering.

In explaining what led him to his actions, Kratz said he's been diagnosed with a sex addiction, complicated by his dependency to prescription medications Xanex, Ambien, and Vicodin, drugs he says lowers ones inhibitions.

Those are behaviors Kratz says he's worked on in both an in-patient treatment center and through continuous weekly therapy, issues he says he will not repeat.

"I don't want this to be viewed as an excuse if at all possible because it's not. I think I understand the impact that my behavior could have on an entire system and I should be punished for that," said Kratz.

No decision on sanctions was made Tuesday.

Both Kratz and the Office of Lawyer Relation attorney need to submit written arguments to the judge, who will then make a recommendation to the state's Supreme Court.

It will be up to the state's high court to determine whether or not to suspend Kratz's law license.

WBAY/CNN