UTICA, N.Y. -- Word of Life Church pastor Tiffanie Irwin and her brother Joseph Irwin will each be spending several years behind bars for their involvement in the beatings of Lucas and Christopher Leonard last year.

"This was a witch trial of these two boys," said District Attorney Scott McNamara.

Both accepted plea deals earlier this year. Tiffanie Irwin pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault charges, and Joseph pleaded guilty to gang assault and assault.

Tiffanie Irwin was sentenced to a total of 12 years behind bars, and Joseph Irwin is facing a total of eight.

Before sentencing, the Leonards' sister spoke about the loss of her brother and said people should become more educated about "mind control."

"It's dangerous, because she [Irwin] got people to do her bidding, and to beat somebody to death and to beat somebody else severely," McNamara said.

"There are several instances of things being said and written in the press that have offended my client," said defense attorney Kurt Schultz. "She was adamant from the start that her intention was to do good. They have no history of violence in this church."

That's something with which McNamara disagrees.

Both Irwins spoke in court. Joseph said he was sorry.

"If I could do anything to go back and change that, I would. But I can't," Joseph said.

However, Tiffanie Irwin had a different story about the beatings.

"I could not understand or fathom what I heard or saw that night," she said. "I was incapable of reacting to what happened before my eyes."

"So you have this built-in excuse for the rest of your life that you were 'incapable' of helping two young men? Go ahead," countered the judge in the case.

Tiffanie: "I have wanted a trial from the start so that the truth could come out."

Tiffanie Irwin accused the judge of not being fair and said that McNamara violated his gag order.

"If Tiffanie accuses you, it doesn't matter if it's based on facts, and that's exactly what she did to the boys, and there was no defending this," McNamara said.

Irwin claims she was forced to plead guilty and wanted to withdraw her plea. The judge denied her request. Tiffanie's attorney says she could now try to appeal.

"With that, we'll have to see what the appellate division says, and then whether or not she will ultimately have a trial," Schultz said.