A retired Idaho priest who admitted to possessing and distributing child porn was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Idaho Statesman reported that the Reverend W. Thomas Faucher, 73, received the de facto life sentence following a rambling 17-minute statement where he attempted to explain how he became entangled in a life of debauchery. In September, Faucher pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of sexually exploitative material, two counts of possession of sexually exploitative materials, and one count of drug possession.

“I was one really sick puppy. I screwed up big-time…I feel so much remorse and anger directed at myself,” Faucher said at sentencing.

In online chats, Garden City Police Detective John Brumbaugh testified Faucher told someone named Bruno of his desire to have sex with underage boys, his attraction to 6-year-old white boys, and his interest in killing someone. Investigators also found images depicting black slavery and Faucher urinating on a canon law book and cross. The ex-priest also revealed to Bruno that he urinated in wine for Mass on one occasion, according to the Statesman.

Authorities zeroed-in on the priest in February after receiving a tip. A search of his home produced more than 2,500 images that were sexually-exploitative or pornographic and depicted subjects who appeared young. Police described the photos as violent and torturous, alleging that some of the children in the pictures were crying.

People reported that Faucher was originally charged with 21 counts of felony sexual exploitation of a child, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance for having LSD, and two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance related to having marijuana and ecstasy.

Before sentencing, the disgraced priest reportedly attempted to argue that he would offer more to society if he remained a free man—acting as an advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

“There are many people who will benefit if I am no longer in jail,” he said. “There are no people who will benefit if I am in jail or in prison.”

Judge Jason Scott was unmoved, finding his crime had immediate and long-term consequences and citing expert testimony which indicated he was likely to re-offend. The Diocese of Biose called his acts “heinous” and recently confirmed to the Statesman that they’re working to have Faucher defrocked.

They said, “While we cannot begin to fathom what brought Faucher to the point that he was able to enter into this evil and dark world, we are thankful for the efforts of the law enforcement community in doing what it can to protect our children from these crimes.”

[Featured image: Reverend W. Thomas Faucher/Ada County Sheriff’s Office]