GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) — Two assistants in a ''rebirthing'' therapy session that led to the death of a 10-year-old girl pleaded guilty Friday to criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death.

Brita St. Clair, 42, and Jack McDaniel, 48, had been charged with reckless child abuse resulting in death, which carries a minimum sentence of 16 years in prison. They each face up to 16 years in prison for the lesser charge.

The pair were assisting psychotherapist Connell Watkins in an unconventional treatment session in Watkins' home in April 2000. The girl, Candace Newmaker, of Durham, N.C., was wrapped in a flannel sheet and told to break out to be ''reborn'' to her adoptive mother.

Candace wasn't breathing when she was unwrapped 70 minutes later. She died the next day.

''They never, ever wanted to hurt anybody, much less a child,'' said Robert Ransome, McDaniel's lawyer.

St. Clair's attorney Mike Steinberg said his client is remorseful. ''There's not a day that goes by that she doesn't think about Candace,'' he said.

Prosecutor Steve Jensen said the two were only assisting in the session and were under Watkins' direction. ''But we need to send a message that even if you're just following orders, that type of defense doesn't cut it,'' he said.

Watkins, 54, and Julie Ponder, 40, another psychotherapist, were convicted of reckless child abuse resulting in death in April and each sentenced to 16 years in prison in June.

St. Clair and McDaniel will be sentenced Oct. 4.

Jeane Newmaker, Candace's adoptive mother, took the child to Watkins for treatment of reactive detachment disorder, which can cause children to resist forming relationships and become violent and unmanageable. She is scheduled to go on trial in November on charges of criminally negligent child abuse.