It's been five years since Deborah Leonard pleaded guilty to assault after beating her sons inside the Word of Life Church with other church members.

Now she's been released from prison.

Leonard was sentenced to five years behind bars back in 2015.

The New Hartford mom admitted she was one of people who whipped her sons with an extension cord during a disciplinary counseling session. Her son Lucas, 19, died from his injuries.

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said Leonard was involved, but was a "follower" not a leader in the beatings. He said she needed to "act like a mother", and stop the beatings instead of following the leadership of the church's pastor Tiffani Irwin.

"I never thought she was a dangerous person. She's being held accountable for her following along and engaging in activity, and I believed it at the time, and I don't know what her situation is now. I haven't seen her in a long time, but she was brainwashed," McNamara said of Deborah Leonard.

Leonard's husband was also involved in the beatings and is serving a 10-year prison sentence. Two other church members, Traci and Daniel Irwin, were released years ago for unlawful imprisonment. Several others are still behind bars.

Deborah Leonard's stepdaughter Kristel Leonard said, "Sadly, Debi remains trapped in the cult identity, which years of abuse by the Irwins at Word of Life developed in her. I don’t believe her serving longer in prison would change that. Now that she is out and physically removed from direct contact with Tiffanie Irwin, I hope she will have the chance to recover her authentic identity. She has yet to come to grips with the reality of what happened at Word of Life. I continue to hope that the freedom of mind Luke attained before his heroic triumph over the cult will be realized by Debi one day too."

Spectrum News reached out to Deborah Leonard's attorney. He had no comment other than he's glad she's moving on.