 (CNN) Daniel Holtzclaw, the ex-Oklahoma City officer convicted of rape and other charges after he preyed on African-American women over six months, was sentenced Thursday to 263 years in prison, as recommended by the jury, according to his attorney. The sentence comes just over a month after a sobbing Holtzclaw was convicted on 18 of 36 counts, including four counts of first-degree rape and four counts of forced oral sodomy. Prosecutors said Holtzclaw selected victims in one of Oklahoma City's poorest neighborhoods based on their criminal histories, assuming their drug or prostitution records would undermine any claims they might make against him. In the filing, Adams alleged that a Facebook post by a police detective referenced evidence that was “withheld from the defense by the government.” 
 
 During Holtzclaw’s trial, thirteen women took the stand and testified that the former cop had coerced them into having sex after threatening to arrest them for possessing drug paraphernalia or on outstanding warrants. According to Oklahoma state court records, Holtzclaw’s attorney Scott Adams filed a motion for a new trial — just one day before a judge would officially sentence him. Victims' stories 
 
 One of Holtzclaw's victims, Jannie Ligons, grandmother of 12, was among those who spoke at the sentencing on Thursday. He cried when the verdicts were delivered last month. JUST WATCHED Former Oklahoma City officer accused of raping 13 women Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Former Oklahoma City officer accused of raping 13 women 02:11 
 
 These are just two of the stories from the 13 victims, one of whom was 17 at the time and testified she was raped on her mother's front porch. Daniel Holtzclaw, 29, stopped the women while out on patrol in Oklahoma City and forced himself on them. Crump has called Ligons "a true hero -- not just for black women but all women."
– A former police officer accused of raping more than a dozen women while on patrol will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced to 263 years in prison on Thursday, NBC News reports. Daniel Holtzclaw, 29, was charged in 2014 and found guilty on 18 of 36 counts last month. According to CNN, Holtzclaw found his victims—ranging in age from 17 to 57—in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Oklahoma City and targeted them for their histories with drugs or prostitution, believing that would protect him from accusations. During the trial, 13 women—all black—testified that Holtzclaw threatened to arrest them if they didn't have sex with him, NBC reports. According to the BBC, they felt their lives were in danger. Holtzclaw's attorney had petitioned for a new trial on Wednesday, claiming his client didn't get a fair trial due to evidence being withheld from the defense, NBC reports. That request was denied by the judge when Holtzclaw was sentenced. During the trial, Holtzclaw's attorney claimed his client was trying to help the victims, according to the BBC.