Five former commissioners of the Selden Fire District struck a plea bargain with the Suffolk district attorney Thursday that will keep them out of prison.

Robert Santora, James Spatafora, John Emr, Joseph Parente and Joseph Callari were arrested in March for stealing nearly $50,000 of taxpayers' money. The district attorney said they misused the funds, spending it on expensive meals out and alcohol. The deal requires the men to pay full restitution within seven days, but does not include any time behind bars. Lawyers for the men said the checks were already in the mail.

Many Selden residents were not happy with the deal.

"I think it's crap," Eileen Lambiasi said. "Because if that were you or I, we'd be in jail and we'd still have to pay restitution."

Others, too, aren't ready to forgive the former commissioners.

"I think that's a terrible injustice to the taxpayers, really," Selden resident Alli Detour said.

In order to prevent fire district officers from misusing funds in the future, the district attorney ordered that part of the restitution be used to hire an independent accountant who will monitor spending.