CEDAR RAPIDS- A part time police officer from northern Illinois was given a 31-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old Dubuque boy.

Donald Rager, 41, of Grayslake, Illinois had pleaded guilty to one count of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in sexual contact with a minor and two child pornography charges last June. Rager was given the lengthy sentence in U.S. district court on Wednesday. In addition to being a part time law officer, Rager also operated a security service in the community north of Chicago.

Federal prosecutors say Rager is considered one of the most dangerous and prolific sex offenders ever prosecuted in the Northern District of Iowa. He admitted to soliciting a 13-year-old Dubuque boy for sex on the internet in February of 2006. Rager traveled to Dubuque and took the teenager to a motel where he videotaped the sexual encounter.

In addition to the Dubuque case, Rager admitted abusing 13 teenage boys, ages 13 to 16, in three other midwestern states. Prosecutors say Rager eventually began to cooperate with authorities in investigating other internet predators and that earned him a 20 percent reduction in his federal sentence.

At his sentencing, Rager told the judge "I take responsibility for the bad choices I made...and I've done everything I can to make amends."

In a news conference following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth said "if it can happen in Dubuque, Iowa it can happen anywhere. Parents need to be vigilant in protecting their children from internet predators and our children need to know the danger."

In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, Rager will also be on supervised release for life following the completion of his term.