UTAH STATE PRISON — Victims of a former Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy convicted of child sex abuse packed a parole hearing Thursday, urging authorities not to let him out of prison.

Brent Don Young was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to serve up to 25 years in prison. On Thursday, he appeared before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole for his third hearing seeking release.

"Do you feel like you are a pedophile?" hearing officer Jennifer Bartlett asked Young.

"Yes," he replied.

She had Young rattle off a list of his victims and describe his pedophilia.

"I have real control issues," he said. "I look for weaknesses in the victims, if they're from a broken family or have problems. I use that against them."

He admitted to abusing some people but denied abusing others.

His daughter, Nicole Young, testified against him and described the abuse she had experienced. She urged the parole board not to release him.

Speaking to reporters outside of prison, Nicole Young said she felt empowered to speak out and did not want him released anytime soon.

"I hope it will be for the remainder of his sentence," she said. "That's about 25 years, and I think it's only been about seven right now, so let's hope."

Since he has been in prison, Brent Young has undergone sex-offender therapy and completed classes. The parole board said he has been described as a "stellar inmate."

Heidi Hafen, who said she was also sexually abused by Young, believed he was only saying the right things to be released. Hafen said the abuse she suffered led her to attempt suicide last year. She said she spoke to the parole board to prevent other children from being abused.

"This new generation of children will be chum in shark-infested waters. Please don't allow this monster shark the opportunity to ruin more lives," she told the parole board.

Brent Young apologized for what he had done.

"I know I am not curable, but I do believe I have changed," he said.

Bartlett did not offer a recommendation to him, but said she had concerns and believed he was a risk to the community. The full five-member board is expected to issue a decision within the next six weeks.

e-mail: bwinslow@ksl.com