CINCINNATI -- A former Cincinnati TV reporter agreed to a five-year prison sentence Thursday in a plea agreement with prosecutors, WLWT-TV reported.

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Stephen Hill (pictured, right), a former investigative reporter at WCPO-TV Channel 9, was arrested in February for allegedly sexually abusing teenage boys.

Hill pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual battery. As part of the deal, the state agreed to drop eight other charges. He was charged with eight counts of sexual battery and four counts of sexual misconduct with minors and faced up to 60 years in prison.

Prosecutors said they wanted Hill to serve eight years, while the defense worked toward a sentence of four years.

The victim's families said they supported the plea in an effort to protect the boys from testifying in court.

Hill was taken off suicide watch at the Hamilton County Justice Center Aug. 19.

Hill was employed at WCPO from 1989 until his firing last March. He is a New Jersey native who also has worked in broadcasting in Baltimore and Nashville.