5 Browns Dad Sentenced to 10 Years to Life for Abusing Daughters

Keith Brown

George Frey/Landov

Keith Brown, the father of the 5 Browns, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years to life in prison for sexually abusing his three daughters when they were children.

"I do believe you are a pedophile. I do believe you are a danger to society," U.S. District Judge David Mortensen told Brown, 55, during the sentencing in Provo, near the Utah home base of the popular piano-playing quintet in Alpine.

"I think it's obvious a home should be a refuge and a safe place, and that a parent should be a protector," the judge added, noting the abuses were not isolated incidents but "went on for years."

The Brown children ? Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody and Ryan ? who are now in their 20s and 30s, are on tour in Florida and did not attend the hearing.

Keith Brown reached a plea deal last month, two years after the daughters approached authorities out of concern that their father, after being fired as the band's co-manager, was considering taking on new child acts.

Brown pleaded guilty to sodomy on a child under 14, and two charges of sex abuse of a child.

"This is what the victims wanted. ... I hope they're happy it finally came," said Deputy Utah County Attorney David Sturgill, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Brown did not speak in court, but he submitted what his attorney characterized as "a statement of apology addressed to his family and the community."

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