A former Crescent City police officer admitted to a judge Tuesday that he was a pedophile and molested hundreds of children. Sixty-year-old Pomona Park resident Paul Joseph Blair confessed to a lifetime of sexually abusing children during a dramatic hearing at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka.
"I've been a pedophile my whole life," Blair said. "In my lifetime, I've probably molested 200-300 girls."
Blair was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in state prison for two counts of sexual battery on a minor 12 to 18 years of age.
"You have wrecked and ruined quite a few lives, even more than I think anyone realized," Circuit Judge Patti Christensen said after Blair spoke.
Blair pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery of a minor on Feb. 18. The plea agreement he reached with prosecutors called for a 25-year prison sentence.
According to Christensen, Blair has a life-threatening illness, which the judge said was taken into account when determining the length of his prison sentence.
"Because he does has a sickness that possibly will not let him spend out his entire sentence, that has been taken into consideration by the state and their recommendation that he has accepted is for 25 years in prison for each of the two counts," Christensen said. "That's what I will abide by."
During Tuesday's emotionally charged court proceedings, four victims read statements about the abuse they suffered from Blair.
"You are a monster in my eyes," one victim said. "This is the kind of damage that can't be undone."
Sobs could be heard in the courtroom as about 15 victims and their families listened to testimony.
"What you did was really sick and wrong," one teenaged victim said. "You deserve what you get."
Another victim called Blair a "cruel, miserable excuse for a human being" and applauded when he admitted to his crimes.
During the hearing, Christensen commended the bravery of those who spoke out.
"Your words were very articulate, very heartfelt and very sad," she said.
Blair said he accepted the consequences of his actions.
"I'm the adult in this situation and I take full responsibility for what I've done," he said.
jmartin@palatkadailynews.com
