Retired New Orleans priest gets life in prison after pleading guilty to child rape

Lawrence Hecker declined to apologize to his victims at emotional hearing that closed book on grueling legal saga

A serial child molester and retired Roman Catholic priest on Wednesday declined an opportunity to apologize to his victims after pleading guilty to child rape earlier in December.

Lawrence Hecker's silence came on Wednesday in New Orleans's state criminal courthouse as a judge handed him a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.