BROCKVILLE

The parents of Aaron Stevenson believe justice was not served after two men convicted in connection with their son's hit-and-run death were released in December after serving fewer than 16 months in jail.

Rusty Pearce, 23, was released from custody on Dec. 28 and Joseph Greer, 24, was released from custody on Dec. 5, a representative from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services confirmed to QMI Agency.

Kelly Stevenson, Aaron's mother, said she and her husband Willy are extremely disappointed with the short time in jail the two men served.

"Justice was not served," she said.

"My son was 16 and he had his whole life ahead of him. Aaron got a life sentence and so did we."

In March, Pearce and Greer pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and indignity to a dead body after their vehicle struck and killed 16-year-old Aaron on County Road 2 in the early morning hours of September 1, 2013.

After striking the teenager and discovering his dead body in the bed of their pickup truck, they dumped his body at a skate park to make his death look like a skateboarding accident. Police arrested them later that day.

Pearce, the driver, was sentenced in April to two years less a day in jail. Greer was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Both men had been in custody since Sept. 1, 2013, and received 1.5 days of pre-sentence custody when their sentences were rendered on Apr. 7, 2014.

In addition to the jail time, Pearce's driving privileges were suspended for five years and he was required to submit a DNA sample. Greer, who also pleaded guilty to impaired driving, had his driving privileges suspended for three years and had to forfeit his truck, which was involved in the collision.

On the night of the collision, Pearce admitted to having some beer and consuming cocaine, but was not charged with any drug- or alcohol-related offences. Greer received an impaired driving charge because he was caught driving the truck away from the skate park while intoxicated.

The two did not apply for parole, but were released because "both had satisfied their sentences and had received earned remission," said Brent Ross, a spokesman for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

By following institutional rules and conditions, offenders can be credited with 'earned remission,' which equals approximately one-third of their sentence. They may be eligible for release after serving approximately two-thirds of their sentence.

Michael O'Shaughnessy, the lawyer who represented Pearce, said he is confident his client is ready to re-enter the outside world.

"Rusty Pearce took responsibility for the crimes that he committed by pleading guilty," said O'Shaughnessy.

"He received a sentence and he has served his sentence without difficulty and he's entitled to (release)."

Since their son's death last year, the Stevensons have been attending MADD Canada meetings in Ottawa, where they meet other families in similar situations.

"It's unbelievable, the sentences that these people get," said Kelly Stevenson.

"And plus, what they did to Aaron afterwards too, trying to cover it up. Justice wasn't served."

alanah.duffy@sunmedia.ca