A 22-year-old Denver man taken into custody after a citizen's arrest two years ago has pleaded guilty to numerous sex crimes.

Zane Robinson will serve 8 to 16 years in state prison for having sex with two local teenage boys, according to a sentence handed down by Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker.

Robinson pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to 10 offenses, including nine felonies, in exchange for the negotiated prison term.

Robinson's case gained notoriety after a neighbor, 42-year-old John Hall, arrested Robinson after soliciting a confession from him.

One of the victims, a 13-year-old boy, told Hall that Robinson had molested him, which prompted Hall to launch his own investigation, according to police.

Hall invited Robinson to his home on July, 23, 2011, and Robinson eventually admitted molesting the boy. That's when Hall slapped handcuffs on Robinson and called police.

East Cocalico Township police charged Robinson with having sex with the 13-year-old and another boy.

They also charged Hall with false imprisonment but later dropped that charge and replaced it with impersonating a public servant, a less serious crime.

Police allege Hall displayed a badge and claimed to be an officer while holding Robinson at his home.

"Hall said he worked for the federal government and stated he had jurisdiction to make an arrest," an officer wrote in an arrest affidavit.

Hall is awaiting trial, tentatively scheduled for May, on that charge. He's facing a possible jail term.

District Attorney Craig Stedman, who approved the dismissal of the original charge, said Hall should have called police before handling the situation on his own.

At the time of the incident, Lancaster County President Judge Joseph Madenspacher defined a citizen's arrest this way: A citizen's arrest is appropriate, the judge said, if the person making the arrest observed a felony offense. (Hall admitted he did not witness a crime).

Citizen's arrest also is appropriate, the judge said, "if there is probable cause to believe a felony was committed and the person being arrested committed it."

Madenspacher said such instances often involve burglaries or other types of theft.

This is Hall's version of what happened:

During the summer of 2011, the 13-year-old boy disclosed the inappropriate contact involving Robinson.

Days later, Hall invited Robinson to his home.

Hall asked about the allegations and Robinson allegedly confessed. Hall said Robinson admitted he assaulted a number of boys.

Hall, a former security officer, handcuffed Robinson in his living room.

"He said, 'Why are you doing this?'" Hall said, referring to Robinson. "I said, 'I have to.'"

Hall dialed 911, and, minutes later East Cocalico Township police officers arrived.

bhambright@lnpnews.com