Former Whittier cop Paul Ayala, 42, was sentenced to 24 years in state prison on four counts of continual sexual abuse of a child and one count of lewd act upon a child, according to court documents.

“We loved you,” said the aunt of one of the children. “We trusted you not just with our hearts but with our most prized possessions – our children.”

Ayala wept and said in a statement he was sorry.

“I was a victim, too,” he said. “I know the hurt.”

From The Los Angeles County DA’s Office:

WHITTIER – A former Pop Warner football coach pleaded no contest today to sexually molesting four young boys who played on his teams and to molesting a fifth victim, a teenaged girl, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Paul Anthony Ayala, 42, entered the plea before Superior Court Commissioner Loren Di Frank, said Deputy District Attorney Frank Dunnick. He was immediately sentenced to 24 years in state prison as part of a negotiated plea. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Ayala pleaded no contest to four counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child and one count of lewd act on a child involving all five victims, Dunnick.

The victims’ families were consulted and approved of the plea agreement and sentence, Dunnick said. Several families made emotional impact statements at today’s sentencing.

“Several of the victims and their families expressed concern over testifying in court, and this resolution spares them any additional stress and anxiety brought on by the court process,” Dunnick said.

Police were notified in February after one victim told a family member. The Sheriff’s Department launched an investigation. Ayala was initially charged with one felony count of oral copulation of a child under 10 and eight felony counts of sexual molestation of a child under 14 involving two boys, who were each 10 at the time of the incidents.

Three additional victims – two boys ages 10 and one girl who was 15 when she was fondled – came forward and charges were added. Ayala was charged with sexually molesting the victims between 2008 to February, 2010.