A 65-year-old man facing trial for the alleged sexual abuse of eight Amish and Mennonite boys in rural Huntingdon and Mifflin counties accepted a plea deal in court Thursday afternoon.

After months of investigations and interviews by state troopers in Huntingdon, Larry Myers was charged with 145 felony and misdemeanor crimes connected to child sex abuse.

Authorities said Myers, known in the area as “Sparky,” befriended the boys in the Big Valley area, and that innocent sleepovers or road trips while hauling mulch to Lancaster led to dozens sexual assaults.

The crimes were alleged to have happened in the cab of his truck or inside his home on Happy Hills Rd. in Union Township, spanning from 2004 through 2008.

As part of the plea deal, Myers pleaded guilty to five felony charges, including forcible rape, rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and will serve 15 to 40 years in a state prison.

As he was led out of the courthouse in handcuffs, Myers told 6News that he wanted to offer an apology to the victims and their families.

"I'd like to ask forgiveness for all of it,” said Myers.

Huntingdon County District Attorney George Zanic told 6News that many families in Amish communities often keep to themselves and don’t report crimes to authorities, but that three victims were ready to testify if the case went to trial.

"We were prepared to do that, but the job that Trooper (Charles) Aungst did in this case meant a world of difference. That's why we got the plea we did today, because of his work. If it wasn't for the work that he and the state police did on this case, we wouldn't be here with him going to state prison for 15 years,” said Zanic. “"It's essentially a life sentence. We're able to do that and we didn't have to re-victimize these folks. We didn't have to bring them back into court to relieve this.”

Myers is expected to undergo an evaluation to determine if he is a sexually violent predator before his sentencing hearing in December.