text: A woman convicted of killing her five-year-old son by poisoning him with salt has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. Lacey Spears of Scottsville, Kentucky, was spared the maximum 25 years to life. Spears who chronicled her son Garnett's illnesses on a personal blog called 'Garnett's Journey' and other social media, was convicted by a jury in White Plains, New York, last month of second-degree murder in his 2014 death at Westchester Medical Center. Scroll down for video . Lacey Spears of Scottsville, Kentucky, was found guilty last month of second-degree murder in the death of Garnett-Paul Spears at a suburban New York hospital (pictured Wednesday) Lacey Spears of Scottsville, Kentucky, was spared the maximum 25 years to life. She showed no emotion when she was sentenced . The New York judge who sentenced Spears on Wednesday said she suffers from a mental illness and said the crime was still 'unfathomable in its cruelty' The New York judge who sentenced Spears on Wednesday said she suffers from a mental illness and said the crime was still 'unfathomable in its cruelty.' Prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence, saying Spears made her son ill because she had a bizarre need for attention. Spears' lawyer requested the minimum 15 years to life - he called her a hardworking single mother who gave her son unconditional love. Prosecutors said Spears loaded the hospitalized boy's . feeding tube with a lethal amount of salt and kept on blogging. Poignant: Spears is seen here with her son Garnett.  Prosecutors said Spears loaded the hospitalized boy's feeding tube with a lethal amount of salt and kept on blogging . Spears' lawyer Stephen Riebling said she was innocent, . blamed the hospital for negligence, and said he plans to appeal . the verdict. While awaiting sentencing, where she faces a maximum penalty . of 25 years to life in prison, she was being held at Westchester . County jail in Valhalla, said a spokesman for Westchester . District Attorney Janet DiFiore. Prosecutors blamed Spears, who lived in Chestnut Ridge, . about 32 miles (51 km) north of New York City, for her son's . short and tormented life. Prosecutors blamed Spears, who lived in Chestnut Ridge,about 32 miles (51 km) north of New York City, for her son'sshort and tormented life . 'Throughout his five years, Garnett Spears was forced to . suffer through repeated hospitalizations, unneeded surgical . procedures and ultimately poisoning with salt, all at the hands . of the one person who should have been his ultimate protector: . his mother,' DiFiore said after Spears was convicted. 'Using the child's 'illnesses' to self aggrandize herself, . her actions directly lead to her son's tortured death,' the . prosecutor said. Spears told investigators that her blond, blue-eyed son, . whose father was killed in a car accident, suffered from a slew . of medical problems from Chrohn's and Celiac diseases to ear . abnormalities, according to court papers. Her social media posts about his ongoing problems and . hospitalizations, including photos of his final hours on life . support, were introduced as evidence by the prosecution at . trial. Defense attorneys said the evidence did not prove murder. They have promised an appeal of the conviction. Spears did not testify at the trial.
target: Lacey Spears of Scottsville, Kentucky, was found guilty last month of second-degree murder in the death of Garnett-Paul Spears .
  The 27-year-old Spears was found guilty of force-feeding heavy concentrations of sodium through the boy's stomach tube .
  Judge who sentenced Spears on Wednesday said she suffers from a mental illness and said the crime was still 'unfathomable in its cruelty'
  She showed no emotion when she was sentenced .