ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- A judge turned down an admitted child molester's request to suppress evidence in a case against him.

NewsChannel5 reported Philip Distasio is representing himself. Cuyahoga County prosecutors said Distasio raped nine autistic boys.

Distasio admitted his guilt in court on Monday, calling the children he raped accomplices. He also blamed the children's parents. He filed a motion to have his alleged victims give written depositions, something the prosecution fought against.

Distasio told a judge that his apartment was a religious sanctuary where smoking marijuana and having sex with children are sacred rituals protected by civil rights laws.

He told the judge, "I'm a pedophile. I've been a pedophile for 20 years. The only reason I'm charged with rape is that no one believes a child can consent to sex. The role of my ministry is to get these cases out of the courtrooms."

Distasio said the children were willing participants and for that reason he believes he's entitled to reduced charges and a shorter sentence.