Guy Cloutier, who's been called the king of Quebec's show business world, surprised court spectators Wednesday by pleading guilty to five sex-related charges.

Cloutier, 64, had been facing eight charges. He pleaded guilty at the start of his preliminary hearing Wednesday to fourof those charges, including sexual assault, indecent assault, obstruction of justice, and having sex with a girl under 14.

He also pleaded guilty to a new charge of indecent assault involving another victim.

The offences Cloutier was accused of spanned from 1978 to 2001. All involved the same woman, who was not identified because some of the alleged crimes happened while she was a minor.

The Crown has asked the judge to sentence Cloutier to five years in prison.

The case had captured the fascination of many in Quebec, with the Montreal Gazette saying that if the case went to trial, it would be to Quebec what the O.J. Simpson affair was to America.

The Montreal courthouse where Cloutier appeared was packed with reporters from the news and entertainment media, as well as curious spectators mesmerized by the case.

Cloutier is a renowned television and music producer. He has managed several Quebec pop stars, including Rene Simard, who he made into an international star in the 1970s.

Cloutier has also produced Loft Story, a reality show, and most recently, the musical Don Juan. As well, he produced La Fureur, a popular sing-along show formerly hosted by his daughter, Veronique.

In September, Quebec television network TQS pleaded guilty to contempt of court in relation to the case. They were accused of violating an order prohibiting publication or broadcast of information that could lead to discovering the victim's identity.

The network posted the prohibited information on its website but never broadcast the name.