NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Two Boston men who were attacked and robbed in New Orleans' French Quarter one night during a Unitarian convention asked a judge to show leniency to their attackers.

The judge handed out prison sentences, but not the maximum. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reports that victims Tim Byrne and James Curran made the plea in letters read aloud Tuesday in court by a prosecutor.

Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Livanos said Byrne is still in physical therapy because of brain damage from the attack last June. All four defendants pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery, which carries a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of 40.

The judge sentenced one man to eight years in prison, two of them to five years, and one man to three years.