PRINCETON, Ky. - Addressing Jesse Allison on Monday, Circuit Judge Woody Woodall told him he would be following the jury's recommendation.

"Five years," he said of the time the young man would be spending behind bars.

And with those few words, Jesse Allison's life, it seemed, was put on hold. But for his former in-laws theirs, they admitted later, was just getting back on track.

"We're just glad it's over," Jack Bargerhuff, Ariel's grandfather said later.

Allison was accused of smothering his infant daughter in their Princeton, Kentucky home back in September of 2009.

His first trial ended in a hung jury. Earlier this year, a second jury acquitted Allison on murder charges but found him guilty on the lesser charge of reckless homicide.

On Monday, Judge Woodall sentenced him to the maximum sentence allowed.

Jack and Dawn Bargerhuff were back in court Monday for sentencing when Allison's attorney pleaded for probation.

"This is a case where this will live with him forever," Jack Faust told the judge.

"This is a tragedy, a tragedy for Ariel Allison who is no longer with us because of the actions of her father," prosecuting attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins fired back.

Ovey-Wiggins also brought up Allison's troubled past.

"Out of three biological children, one he has been convicted on child neglect, the second child died in his care, undetermined cause of death, and the third child is what leads us to the courtroom today, Ariel Allison," she told the court.

"This might prevent it from happening, any other children being hurt," Dawn Bargerhuff said later of Jesse Allison's sentence.

While Bargerhuff was pleased with the judge's sentence she admitted, "There's just not a happy ending."

It is interesting to note that the prosecutor brought up Jesse Allison's history.  The court would not allow that to be a part of the past two trials but Ovey-Wiggins knew she wanted to and could mention it Monday.  Local 6 asked the Commonwealth if they will be re-opening an investigation into the 2008 death of his daughter, Erin Allison.  Ovey-Wiggins said she was unable to comment.  

Jesse Allison has already spent about 700 days behind bars. Judge Woody Woodall will credit Allison with those days, which means he will likely spend 3 years behind bars.