"I have to say that I got off very easy. There were incidents"

Maurice Ashley's quote suggests that he was lucky to have actually experienced a fairly small effect for his actions. He acknowledges that there were other events, however he was lucky enough to have actually gotten off easy. This might indicate that he was able to avoid more major consequences, such as legal action or public humiliation. It might also indicate that he was able to fix the scenario without any lasting damage to his reputation or relationships. Whatever the case, Ashley's quote implies that he was fortunate to have actually prevented more severe consequences. It likewise suggests that he is aware of the potential effects of his actions and is grateful for the result.