KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- The first man convicted in connection to the Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom murders will spend 18 years in federal prison.

That sentence was just passed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan to Eric DeWayne Boyd.

Boyd was convicted of helping the alleged ringleader, Lemaricus Davidson try to avoid arrest shortly after the January 2007 crimes.

At an extended sentencing hearing, today in front of Judge Varlan, federal prosecutors focused much of their arguments on Boyd's criminal past.

Volunteer TV's Allison Hunt reports Boyd's federal probation officer testified about Boyd's extensive criminal history including nine robberies he admitted to pulling off, or at least participating in from March until May in 1994.

Boyd's attorney, Phil Lomanaco wanted his client to be given a break because he says Boyd actually helped lead police to the alleged ringleader in the Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom carjacking and murders, Lemaricus Davidson, when Boyd was questioned shortly after the January 2007 crimes.

Before the sentencing, family members of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom spoke in court for the first time. Chris's sister, Andrea Bowers was the first to speak. She says she finds comfort knowing there is a God and finds comfort in the fact that "Chris had to cry out to him that night". She also spoke directly to Boyd and said "No matter what happens today, death will come to all of us and you'll have to face God and confess to what you did."

Mary Newsom, Chris's mother, was the next to speak. She held Chris's favorite baseball cap and said "he will never get to wear this cap again." She also said, "For the record, Chris is not a dude," this addressing statements made by Boyd during an interview in 2007 about the murders where Boyd addressed Chris as a "dude."

Hugh Newsom placed a picture of Channon and Chris on the stand while he spoke to the court saying "I look at her beautiful eyes and his beautiful smile and think how could anyone harm those two people?"

Gary Christian, Channon's father, was the last of the family members to speak. He spent a long time addressing each of his family members about memories they shared with Channon. He said he and his wife, Deena, had 21 years with a daughter they are very proud of. He then looked right at Eric Boyd and said, "I bet your mamma's real proud of you." Over the next several minutes he showed a lot of anger toward Boyd, saying several times, "I hate Eric Boyd." He said he hasn't prayed since the day his daughter was found murdered, but said to Eric Boyd "today I will pray, but don't think for one second I'm praying for you." He ended his statements with a prayer.

Eric Boyd also addressed the court for the first time. He defended his reasons for going to Chipman Street the Sunday after Channon and Chris went missing and how he was not aware of the reason Davidson was on the run. He finished his statement by saying "I want the mercy of the court...I wanted to make sure this man didn't hurt nobody else."

Boyd was convicted in April of being an accessory after the fact, for helping Davison avoid prosecution, at least initially, by helping him hide from police.

Prosecutors wanted him to be receive the maximum sentence, 18 years in federal prison.

Davidson, Letalvius Cobbins, George Thomas and, Vanessa Coleman all face a multiple count carjacking, rape, and murder indictment in connection with Christian and Newsom's deaths.

Mary Newsom, mother of Chris, said "I told my son we would get these guys no matter where they were and I believe we got them, we're on the way."

Hugh Newsom, father of Chris, said "the scale of justice will never be equal, our son can never be replaced. Everything, as far as sentencing, is just a small consolation, the fact that they will be off the street and can't harm someone else." He added, "Both of them wanted to do good things, their lives were cut short by a bunch of animals."

Gary Christian, father of Channon, said "I hate him and what he did and we know why he was here and why he was convicted in court. This is not all Eric Boyd did and it ain't over till it's over." He added, "When I get to where I'm going and I get to put my arms around her then I'll feel better."

Dave Bowers, Chris's Brother-in-law, said "he got the maximum, but it pales in comparison to the crimes that he committed, that he was found guilty of committing, and, like my wife keeps reiterating, he'll be found in judgment on judgment day and he won't be represented by an attorney and he won't have a chance to lie and cover up the things that he's done." He added, "He committed a heinous crime and was not found guilty for many things that he did do that night." and "I"m sure that he fully participated in the murders of Channon and Chris."

We will have reaction from both families and the defense tonight on Volunteer TV News at 11:00.