Word of Life Christian Church member who beat son to death pleads guilty

Suzette Gutierrez Cachila Sunday, June 26, 2016

Bruce Leonard, who beat his teenaged son to death in church, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 22 to charges of first- and second-degree assault.

Testifying at Oneida County Court, Leonard described how he whipped his 19-year-old son Lucas and his 17-year-old son Christopher during what was supposed to be a counseling session in October 2015, according to CBS News.

Bruce Leonard enters the courtroom to stand for a manslaughter charge against him in the death of his 19-year-old son Lucas Leonard in New Hartford, New York October 16, 2015. | Reuters/Tina Russell/Observer-Dispatch Pool

Leonard said the counseling session was called by Tiffanie Irwin, pastor of Word of Life Christian Church in Hartford, N.Y. Leonard said his two sons were called in for questioning, and Irwin controlled the questions that were asked.

He said the counseling session shifted into accusations against the two boys, with a church member saying Lucas had sexually molested children. Leonard never confirmed the accusation against his son, and police said they found no evidence to support it.

Leonard's sons were beaten with electrical cords and assaulted for hours in the torso and genitals, leading to the death of Lucas. His other son Christopher sustained injuries.

The controversy began when Lucas went to another church with his half-sister, Sarah Ferguson, in August 2015. He was immediately punished for his behavior and told by his father to write "I will not lie. I will not be rebellious. The rebellious will be cast out. Psalms 5:10" 700 times, Observer Dispatch reported.

His father imposed the punishment as instructed by Irwin, who told him he should establish his authority with "decisiveness" or he will lose control of his son.

Leonard's plea includes a condition to testify against the church's seven defendants, including Irwin, her mother Traci and her brothers Joseph and Daniel. Church member Linda Morey and her son David are also facing charges.

Leonard is yet to stand trial for the charge of murder. He is expected to face at least 15 years of imprisonment for assault.

Leonard's wife pleaded guilty to assault charges in December 2015. Lucas' half-sister, Ferguson, will also stand trial for murder and other charges.