(AP) -- CHESTERFIELD, S.C. (AP) -- A former Bennettsville police officer has been sentenced to five years' probation after pleading guilty to molesting several boys between 1969 and 1981.

The Florence Morning News reports on its Web site that 58-year-old Jerry Starnes pleaded guilty Thursday to six counts of committing or attempting to commit a lewd act upon a child.

All the victims agreed to accept a sentence of probation in exchange for Starnes' guilty plea.

Circuit Court Judge Paul Burch said he thought Starnes deserved jail time, but agreed to probation after the victims assured him they were satisfied with the sentence.

Starnes also must register as a sex offender.

Bennettsville Police Chief Larry McNeil says Starnes retired from the police department this week.

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Information from: Morning News, http://www.scnow.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APNP 02-05-09 2107EST

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)