The pastor of Word of Life church, where two teens were severely beaten during a “counseling session” last year, was sentenced on Monday in Oneida County Court, along with her brother.
Pastor Tiffanie Irwin, 30, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October, was sentenced on Monday to 12 years in state prison.
Before being sentenced, Irwin asked to withdraw her guilty plea and have her case go to trial, saying she was coerced into accepting the plea.
Tiffanie Irwin, Joseph Irwin, David Morey and Linda Morey all pleaded guilty to their crimes in October. According to the prosecution's offer, if one or more had rejected their plea offers, all four would have had to head to trial.
Tiffanie Irwin asked Judge Dwyer in court on Monday to step aside so that she could have a fair trial. She said Dwyer had not been a fair and impartial judge. Dwyer denied her request and sentenced her to the agreed upon 12 years in prison.
Tiffanie’s brother, Joseph Irwin, 23, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the beating. In October he pleaded guilty to one count of gang assault in the death of Lucas Leonard and one count of assault in the beating of Christopher Leonard, which carry sentences of five years and eight years to be served concurrently.
The more defendants - 55-year-old Linda Morey and her 27-year-old son, David Morey - will be sentenced Jan. 9. They both pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree assault and are expected to be sentenced to an agreed upon five years in state prison.
The boys' parents, Bruce and Deborah Leonard, will both be sentenced Jan. 12.