KANSAS CITY, MO. -
A man imprisoned for a Kansas City hit-and-run death has a hearing scheduled for Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court on his request for release, but the victim's mother says that the man has not served enough time in jail.
Jackson County Circuit Judge John Torrence has sent notice to the prosecutor's office that he intends to grant probation to Curtis Mertensmeyer, who pleaded guilty last year in the May 2008 death of 25-year-old Daniel Riemann, who was struck as he tried to cross a street.
Mertensmeyer admitted he had been drinking and speeding. He received a five-year sentence in February, with possible release after 120 days.
Kelly Riemann, the victim's mother, has said she opposes the release and wants the court to look at more evidence in the case.
"I'm not going to be angry because I know in my heart I've fought the good fight and Daniel knows I did that for him" said Riemann.
Riemann says that she is prepared for the worst on Friday morning as the man who admitted killing her son is released after serving less than 10 percent of his five-year sentence. She says that she prays the judge realizes that Mertensmeyer has not paid for his mistake, and that the crimes he committed are horrific enough to keep him behind bars.
"We have a 20 year old who was arrested in high school, drank underage, with passengers," said Riemann. "He put them at risk, he was speeding, he drove under the influence, he hit and killed a man and left the scene, didn't turn himself in, convicted of two felonies at the age of 20."
Riemann said that the permanence of her son's death is something that has yet to fully sink in, and will last long after the end of the criminal case against Mertensmeyer.
"And in the last few weeks, I've realized that's what I'm ready for," said Riemann. "I'm ready to let go of the case and focus on my son again."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jackson County Circuit Judge John Torrence has sent notice to the prosecutor's office that he intends to grant probation to Curtis Mertensmeyer, who pleaded guilty last year in the May 2008 death of 25-year-old Daniel Riemann, who was struck as he tried to cross a street.
Mertensmeyer admitted he had been drinking and speeding. He received a five-year sentence in February, with possible release after 120 days.
Kelly Riemann, the victim's mother, has said she opposes the release and wants the court to look at more evidence in the case.
"I'm not going to be angry because I know in my heart I've fought the good fight and Daniel knows I did that for him" said Riemann.
Riemann says that she is prepared for the worst on Friday morning as the man who admitted killing her son is released after serving less than 10 percent of his five-year sentence. She says that she prays the judge realizes that Mertensmeyer has not paid for his mistake, and that the crimes he committed are horrific enough to keep him behind bars.
"We have a 20 year old who was arrested in high school, drank underage, with passengers," said Riemann. "He put them at risk, he was speeding, he drove under the influence, he hit and killed a man and left the scene, didn't turn himself in, convicted of two felonies at the age of 20."
Riemann said that the permanence of her son's death is something that has yet to fully sink in, and will last long after the end of the criminal case against Mertensmeyer.
"And in the last few weeks, I've realized that's what I'm ready for," said Riemann. "I'm ready to let go of the case and focus on my son again."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
