UTICA, N.Y. -- Oneida County Judge Michael Dwyer found Sarah Ferguson guilty on manslaughter and assault charges, but not guilty on the most serious charge of second-degree murder Tuesday afternoon in the first Word of Life beatings trial.

Ferguson was accused of taking part in the beatings, which killed her half-brother Lucas Leonard and seriously injured his brother, Christopher.

Dwyer found Ferguson guilty of gang assault, assault and first-degree manslaughter, but not guilty of second-degree murder, finding that the state didn't prove that Ferguson was aware Lucas Leonard's injuries could lead to his death.

Each of the three charges she was convicted of are Class B felonies, and are punishable by up to 25 years in state prison.

Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for September 1.

Dwyer continued the gag order on attorneys with six other defendants yet to have their cases work through the court system.

Earlier in the day, lawyers presented their closing arguments.

Ferguson's attorney said her client does not claim to be blameless in the beatings, but she said Ferguson believed the victims had sexually abused her children.

She said Ferguson stopped beating the victims and left not knowing they were seriously injured.

The defense pointed out the police didn't know how serious Lucas Leonard's injuries were, because he was never rushed to the hospital.

But District Attorney Scott McNamara said the evidence shows Ferguson intended to seriously injure both teens.

McNamara said Ferguson was enraged and targeted their genitals, ignoring screams of pain. He said Ferguson only stopped because the boys' father, Bruce Leonard, told her to.

McNamara called the incident torture, saying the victims were beaten for an hour then interrogated for 12 more hours. He argued Ferguson knew Lucas was bleeding heavily, and chose to do nothing to help.

McNamara concluded by saying if Lucas had been taken to the hospital sooner, he would not have died.