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A former D.C. police officer admitted to forcing minors to work as prostitutes and possessing child pornography in federal court today as part of a plea agreement that could see him serve seven years in prison.

Linwood Barnhill pleaded guilty to two counts of pandering of a minor — meaning he coerced minors into engaging in prostitution — and one count of possessing child pornography. According to the government, the veteran member of the Metropolitan Police Department approached a 15-year-old girl at a bus stop and asked if she was interested in modeling. He then photographed her clothed and nude. Barnhill admitted to coercing the 15-year-old girl to have oral and vaginal sex with a man. According to charging documents, Barnhill told the girl “that he plans bachelor parties and has ‘tons’ of girls.” He “stated the defendant told her that her young age was not a problem because he had other minors who worked for him.”

He met a 17-year-old girl in a similar way in October 2013. Barnhill asked the girl to perform oral sex on him while he filmed it.

Barnhill’s illegal operation was discovered in December 2013 when the parents of a missing 16-year-old girl traced her to the officer’s Southwest D.C. apartment. She met Barnhill at a store, the government says, where he asked if she was interested in modeling. He photographed the minor nude and clothed with a cellphone, and prepared her to have sex with men for money.

When asked by District Court Judge Rosemary M. Collyer why he was pleading guilty — if he was admitting to these crimes because the government could prove his guilt or if there was another reason — Barnhill replied “Cause I’m guilty.”

Under a plea agreement with the government, Barnhill would serve 84 months in prison. Collyer said she would have to study Barnhill and the case before making a sentencing recommendation, but she said she was not sure about the negotiated sentenced.

“I need to know if the victims have anything to say,” Collyer said, adding that “this is not a victimless crime. That’s a matter of concern for me.”

Barnhill will be sentenced on September 4.