Former Army officer Aaron Lucas, 33, of Huntsville, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison today in Colorado for multiple sex crimes against children, the Gazette reports.

According to the Gazette, the former Fort Carson soldier was sentenced by Judge David Shakes for charges that included rape and sexual assault of a child.

During the sentencing hearing families of the victims spoke out and Lucas' family said he was also sexually abused and could be considered a hero for his actions in Afghanistan, the Gazette reported.

Lucas asked the court for help, according to reports, saying "I've been dealing with this for a very, very long time, since I was a child."

Lucas pleaded guilty in November 2013 to nine cases in El Paso County, Colo. The incidents happened between 2009 and 2012, the report said.

Lucas had originally implicated his twin brother Brian Lucas, in the case, but he later pleaded guilty, reports said.

Brian Lucas has since been charged with similar sex crimes against children including sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of a child in Madison County. He is currently being held in the Madison County Jail in Huntsville, Ala.

Click here to read the Gazette's full report.