FORT WORTH — After hours of deliberation, a Tarrant County jury sentenced Tracy Roberson to five years in prison Monday evening.

On Friday, a jury convicted Roberson of manslaughter in the 2006 death of her lover, Devin LaSalle. Mrs. Roberson falsely cried rape and her husband shot LaSalle.

Mrs. Roberson faced a prison sentence of up to 20 years, and prosecutors had hoped for up to ten years. Mrs. Roberson's attorneys asked for probation. The jury gave her five years.

Tears were flowing in the Fort Worth courtroom Monday morning during the penalty phase of the Mrs. Roberson trial. Later in the evening, the family broke out in emotion as the sentence was read.

"They're young; they love her," said Jill Davis, Mrs. Roberson's lawyer, after the children became distraught during their mother's sentencing. "She was obviously their primary caregiver their entire life. And they don't know a family life without her."

Defense attorneys argued that Roberson's children need their mother. Prosecutors countered that the victim's children will never have their father.

"When you're dealing with situations where you've got to balance two families, it's a hard decision," said Sean Colston, prosecutor. "So, I just applaud the jury for taking time out of their lives to come down here and deliberate on such a hard case."

Mrs. Roberson took the stand only during the sentencing stage. She told jury members she never meant for the tragic murder to happen.

Mrs. Roberson will have to serve two years before she is eligible for parole.