William Fox, ex-NYPD officer once honored as 'Father of the Year,' admits sex abuse of three boys

Photo: William Fox became a national hero in 1981, when he persuade a suicidal 17-year-old boy (seen next to Fox) to come off the sixth-story ledge of a Bowery flophouse.

A hero NYPD officer once honored as "Father of the Year" faces 69 years behind bars after admitting the sexual abuse of three boys - including two of his adopted sons.

William Fox, 66, cut a plea deal with Pennsylvania prosecutors Tuesday as his trial entered its second day.

The former Staten Islander pleaded "no contest" to four felonies and five misdemeanors, including incest, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors.

Fox was ordered held without bail pending his sentencing, said Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Forray. In addition to the jail time, Fox could face $125,000 in fines.

The plea deal also included an admission that Fox tried to persuade one victim to change his testimony before the grand jury.

Fox became a national hero in 1981, when he persuade a suicidal 17-year-old boy to come off the sixth-story ledge of a Bowery flophouse.

Once safe, the teen was adopted by Fox. The officer later wrote a heart-warming book about their relationship, "The Cop and the Kid."

In May 1982, the National Father's Day Committee honored Fox as one of its 10 Fathers of the Year.

Prosecutors painted a different picture of Fox, describing him as a monster who preyed on young boys.

His decision to take a plea came after the Tuesday testimony of an adopted son who described more than a decade of sexual abuse.

Fox was arrested in late March at his Pennsylvania home on a 21-count indictment for molesting the three boys between 1996-2009.

Adopted son Shane Fox tipped authorities to his father's twisted behavior after he caught the retired cop abusing a 16-year-old adopted boy in 2008.