A guilty plea Wednesday ensures that the man who killed three young adults in a crash earlier this year will spend time in prison.

But, for family and friends, is it enough?

Anthony Saccone will be sentenced to 10-to-30 years in prison -- much less than if had he been convicted at trial.

"Seven years isn't long enough," said Carl Black, a longtime friend of Michael Walker. "To me it feels the same as if I went out and stabbed somebody and killed them.

Saccone had faced multiple charges, including murder in connection to the crash that killed Walker, Baylie Rose and Samra Osmanovic.

When Saccone pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and two other lesser charges, Black was left with more questions than answers.

We talked to a legal expert to try and understand more.

"In order to make certain that you get a conviction, to minimize the impact on the victim's families you agree witht the defendant to accept a lower charge," said Kevin Kuehner, an attorney in Syracuse.

According to Kuehner, that plea deal was a way to protect the victims' families.

An extended trial would force the victims' families and friends to keep re-living February's crash. 

"It's hard enough going forward every day with his name in the news," said Gigi Meyers, Baylie's Stepmother.

While the charges Saccone pleaded to carry less minimum time than a murder charge, the DA says these charges guarantee the ruling wont be overturned.

Saccone will become eligible for parole once his minimum sentences are met ten years from his sentencing.

At that point, The victims' families can continue to fight for their loved ones.

"Their burden, starting in 2028, is to appear vociferously every two years and make sure that he is not paroled early," said William Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga County district attorney.

Let's recap:

Murder convictions are never guaranteed, so their deal had lower charges that won't be overturned. Now Saccone will be in prison for at least ten years, and the families don't have to go through a trial. Once that ten years are over, if they want Saccone in prison longer they have to show up to parole hearings. 

Saccone could face up to 30 years from this deal alone, but there could be more years added on to that depending on how he pleads to charges connected to a reckless driving arrest from this past weekend.