A Key Largo man convicted in February of sexually abusing his two stepdaughters was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences on Friday.

Hector Hernandez, 36, was also sentenced to one 20-year prison sentence.

Hernandez protested his innocence to the end at the Plantation Key courthouse during the sentencing hearing, Assistant State Attorney Terri Hunnewell said.

The prosecutor said justice is being served.

"The children have been worried. They're still afraid," Hunnewell said after the hearing. "The youngest has been sleeping with a hammer under her pillow and she said she wasn't going to give up her hammer until he was actually sentenced. So he was sentenced today and the mother hopes she gives up her hammer."

Hernandez was convicted of abusing the girls, now 17 and 13, over a seven-year span. The abuse escalated from fondling to worse offenses, including rape. It began for both girls when they were of kindergarten age.