In news that has rocked the Mormon church, Utah and the classical music world, the father of the famed piano group The 5 Browns has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing his three daughters when they were young.

Keith Brown, 55, pleaded guilty to felony charges of sodomy on a child under 14 and of sexual abuse of a child, the Deseret News reports. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors will recommend that he be imprisoned for 10 years to life. Sentencing is set for March 31.

His lawyer, Steven Shapiro, said the plea negotiations took six months, the paper says. Police said that although charges were filed last week, the investigation had taken months.

Shapiro said Brown first confessed the abuse to his bishop at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but prosecutor David Sturgill said the daughters first reported the abuse to police, writes the Deseret News, which is published by a company owned by the church.

The paper says that Brown "appeared very solemn and emotional" during his court appearance today in Provo, his face "scratched with injuries from a spectacular Monday auto accident."

Brown and his wife, Lisa, were injured when their Porsche plummeted 500 feet into a canyon on their way home from dinner. She remains hospitalized. Shapiro said it was an accident.

Brown used to manage his five children's musical career but no longer has any professional connection. The Brown women -- Desirae, Deondra and Melody -- severed their professional relationship with their father in October 2008. They issued a statement Tuesday.