Mertens said the students feel terrible for what happened and for the victims’ families, but they do not feel they contributed directly to the deaths and their pleas are reflective of that, he said.

“There was one thing our clients were guilty of — holding a keg party and not monitoring who was consuming alcohol,” Mertens said. “That’s what they pled guilty to.”

Mertens said the true responsibility falls on the driver of the car, who was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he crashed his car killing 17-year-old Holly Bossenbery and 18-year-old Taylyr Cochran.

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said evidence that was revealed during the investigation lead pointed to the driver of the car, 17-year-old Brett Johnson, as being at fault.

Johnson initially faced three charges of operating under the influence of alcohol leading to death but the three charges were condensed into one which he pleaded guilty to yesterday, Dunnings said.

“I hope that people will see that if they condone this (providing alcohol to minors) that there could be legal ramification,” Dunnings said. “There’s a reason why its against the law for people under 21 to possess alcohol.”