EL CAJON, Calif. -- An East County photographer who admitted molesting young girls after getting them to model for him in his studio was sentenced Monday to 60 years to life in prison.

Gary Lee Whiteside, 66, pleaded guilty last month to four counts of lewd acts with a minor and admitted an allegation of multiple victims.

Each count carries a penalty of 15 years to life in prison, and Judge Louis Hanoian -- who described the crimes as "despicable acts" -- ordered that the terms run consecutively.

Prior to pleading guilty, Whiteside faced 51 counts involving nine girls. He admitted inappropriately touching three girls, ages 11, 12 and 13, but not having sex with them.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco told the judge the defendant posed the girls inappropriately, had sexual intercourse with three of them and oral copulation with four of them.

Whiteside read a lengthy statement in which he apologized to the victims and their families.

He said he developed a mentoring relationship with three or four girls who willingly came to the studio to be photographed.

"I ended up betraying the trust that was given to me," Whiteside said. "I was the adult and I did something wrong."

He then questioned what he said were the lighter sentences given to drunken drivers who kill people. He also railed against the glorification of sex on television and in movies, and inconsistent laws regulating sexual behavior between states.

Greco told the judge the molestations occurred over a four-year period from 2004 until the FBI received a tip in July 2008.

"To paint himself as a victim is painful and inappropriate," Greco said.

The prosecutor said the defendant's behavior was "not ambiguous or open to interpretation."

The judge said the statements showed Whiteside still didn't understand the ramifications of his actions.

"That is outrageous, and this is a punishment you richly deserve," Hanoian said.

At a previous hearing, the prosecutor said Whiteside invested time, energy and attention on girls who came from difficult home situations where their parents couldn't give them the attention they wanted.

The mother of one of the girls told Whiteside his actions were "sick, disgusting and unthinkable" to do to a child.

"I want you to know, Mr. Whiteside, I have such relief in my heart that you will not longer hurt another child as long as you live," she said.

Whiteside was married for 41 years, volunteered for his church and worked with police departments in El Cajon and La Mesa.

A co-defendant, Pauletta Santaua, pleaded guilty to one count of committing a lewd act on a child under 14. The 21-year-old was sentenced in April to one year in jail.