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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Maria Darlene Gardner was charged for pouring gasoline on her 5 children and setting them on fire -- killing one, 16-month-old Ashia Joseph.

The fire was set in their home on Galena Ct. on January 28, 2008.

Gardner accepted a plea deal last month to one count of fatal child abuse and four counts of child abuse. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a first-degree murder charge.

She is sentenced to the maximum penalty under the plea deal of 85 years.

Neighbors of convicted Maria Gardner won't ever forget that frightful night. They're now shocked to find out, and they wonder, is 85 years enough?

"85 years is not even close to the punishment that she should get for this. I mean one of the kids isn't even coming back. That's ridiculous," says Kyle Dennison.

He isn't alone, and others believes her plea deal, so that her four remaining children wouldn't have to testify against her, isn't acceptable.

"I think she should have faced her kids, you know and she didn't give them that right. If she could do that to them, they should've had a right to say, why did you do that," pleaded Tambra Gunter.

The courtroom was somber as several people spoke for both the prosecution and defense. Gardner did cry as she continued to apologize claiming, if she were in the right mindset this would have never happened, and that she should have reached out for help.

"Don't resort to taking a kids life or hurting a kid for your failures. Call someone, get some help," continued Dennison.

The most shocking speaker was a therapist that read letters from two of the surviving children. "Tell my mom to be nice to us next time. If I see you again, please don't hurt us." And, "I want my mom in jail for 87 years. What she did was not nice, and she killed someone."

"That's sad. That's really sad to hear that," claimed Gunter.

"Obviously the kids see it as well that it's more about mommy being mean to them then it was for mommy caring for them," finished Dennison.

Judge Simmons remarked that he wished he could have sentenced more time, but is satisfied that Gardner took responsibility for her actions.

Her sister and friends all mentioned that they feel the penalty is fair, and wish they would have helped with Gardner's emotional struggles more.