After tearful pleas for mercy from a long line of family members, two mothers were sent to state prison this morning for leaving several of their children unsupervised during a house fire that took the lives of the five youngest children.

The mothers left their younger children in the care of their 8-year-old boys and went a local tavern when the fire occurred, police said.

"You traded the lives of five children for a couple of beers and some cigarettes. These children were placed in harm's way because you decided it was time to party," said Allegheny County Judge David R. Cashman, who sentenced the lifelong friends to one to two years in prison plus five years' probation. He mandated drug and alcohol treatment, mental health evaluations and parenting classes.

Furaha T. Love, 26, of Hazelwood, and Shakita Mangham, 26, of Verona, pleaded no contest in February to reduced charges. Ms. Love, who lost two children in the fire, pleaded to two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Ms. Mangham, who lost three children, pleaded to three counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count and false reports to police for telling investigators a non-existent baby-sitter had been caring for the children when the fire broke out. Today she readily admitted to the judge that she made that story up so she could attend the children's funeral.

After their friends and relatives testified -- most supporting them for the grief they'd endured, but several admonishing them for their grave mistake -- both mothers made tearful statements to the judge, expressing remorse and asking for leniency. Both calmly submitted to being handcuffed by sheriff's deputies after the sentencing. Ms. Mangham called out to the packed gallery, "Love you all," as she left.

Killed in the June 12 blaze in Larimer were three of her children: Daekia Holyfield, 7, Dezekiah Holyfield, 3, and Cedano Holyfield Jr., 4; and two of Ms. Love's sons, Azequel Rankin, 5, and Andre Rankin, 6. Ms. Mangham's son, Jevon Irwin, who was 8, and Ms. Love's son, Huedon Chambliss, who was also 8, escaped the burning house unharmed.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.