CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- A Clayton County father was sentenced to 15 years in jail with 12 years to serve for nearly starving his 13-month-old sons to death.

James Alvin McCart, 23, pleaded guilty in court Thursday. The judge sentenced him immediately afterward.

Prosecutors said the boys’ mother, Tessa Zelek, and her husband, McCart, were high on drugs when they neglected the boys in 2007.

Zelek was found guilty at trial in October and was sentenced to 70 years in jail.

McCart testified at Zelek’s trial and said that he and Zelek took at least 20 pills a day and went days not feeding the children.

Zelek’s mother also faces charges for allegedly hiding the child cruelty.

The twins, now 3 years old, are doing OK.