Punished: Former Phoenix cop Christopher Wilson, 47, has been sentenced to 23 years after pleading guilty to three sexual conduct charges involving two boys, ages 14 and 17
A former Phoenix police detective was sentenced Monday to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with two teenage boys.
The punishment imposed on 47-year-old Christopher Wilson by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge was part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Wilson also faces lifetime probation and must register as a sex offender.
He pleaded guilty January 26 to two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of attempt to commit sexual conduct with a minor, just moments before the former cop's trial was set to begin.
The 13-year police veteran, who is openly gay, was initially charged with 10 counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
Wilson was arrested in 2012 after investigators learned of an alleged three-way sexual encounter involving two boys, ages 14 and 17, whom he had met through work.
Wilson was the Police Department's appointed outreach officer to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community.
When given a chance to speak during his sentencing Monday, Wilson, dressed in a striped jail garb, said: 'I did not know at the time he [victim] was 14. He was supposed to be 18. He lied. I want to go on record stating that.’
In a jailhouse interview with the local station KPHO last year, Wilson claimed he thought the 17-year-old victim was emancipated and thought the 14-year-old was 18.
Scroll down for video
Figure of authority: Wilson was the Police Department's appointed outreach officer to the LGBT community
Blaming the victim: During his sentencing, Wilson (pictured left) said the 14-year-old victim lied about his age
'I'm not a monster like everyone's painting me out to be. You know, I'm not a predator. I'm not a pedophile. I didn't go out and seek a 14-year-old,' Wilson said.
Wilson’s lawyer, Robert Campos, said after sentencing that his client made the decision to plead guilty and accept his punishment so that the two victims would not have to go through a trial.
"This is a case of Chris taking responsibility but also hoping that by doing the right thing, cooperating with authorities, that that in the end would also give him a fair and just sentence," the lawyer told KPHO.
Related