WATERBURY, CONN. —  Former Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano, already serving a 37-year federal prison sentence for having sex with children, pleaded no contest Tuesday to state child-sex charges and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Under a plea deal with state prosecutors, Giordano entered pleas to four counts of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of conspiracy to commit sexual assault. His state prison sentence will run concurrent to his federal sentence.

Giordono will also get credit for time served since his 1991 arrest, Judge Joan Alexander ruled.

The no contest pleas mean Giordono does not admit guilt, but agrees not to contest the state's prosecution.

Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly said he agreed to plea deal to prevent the two victims in the case from having to testify a second time about the crimes.

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