PITTSBURGH — Two mothers pleaded no contest Monday to involuntary manslaughter charges in the deaths of five of their children in a house fire that began while the women were out at a bar.

Shakita Maugham and Furaha Love, both 26, entered the pleas before Allegheny County Judge David R. Cashman in return for the withdrawal of lesser charges, including endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. Maugham also pleaded no contest to making false reports to police.

Love and Maugham left the children in the care of two 8-year-olds in June, police said. Authorities say the early morning fire was started by children playing with matches.

Prosecutors said earlier that Maugham initially told police the children were left with a baby sitter. She later acknowledged she had given investigators false information to avoid getting into trouble and because she wanted to attend funeral services and remain available for her surviving son, according to a criminal complaint.

PITTSBURGH — A man was convicted of murder Monday and will be sentenced to life in prison for killing and dismembering his roommate after an argument.James Baldwin Jr. killed Brendon Martin, 19, after Baldwin asked Martin to move out of the house they shared in Carnegie with Baldwin's girlfriend and young daughter.The jury on Monday rejected Baldwin's insanity defense and convicted him of first-degree murder in the 2006, slaying.At trial, Baldwin, 25, claimed he was insane. Defense attorney John Elash said the jury rejected the findings of a doctor who observed Baldwin in a state hospital in favor of a prosecution expert who examined him for 90 minutes.The first-degree murder conviction means Baldwin will automatically be sentenced to life in prison.