On Monday --- the second anniversary of his son’s death in an ATV crash --- Chuck Buck was a turmoil of emotions.

The pain of losing 16-year-old Briggs Buck, of course, will never fade away.

The family has faith and hope that Briggs is in a “better place. This is a hard day. But it’s the day he met his savior, Jesus Christ. Our faith is strong, and we lean on that.”

But unlike on the first anniversary, Chuck Buck said his family also feels a little relief.

“He’s finally in jail,” Chuck Buck said, referring to 34-year-old Steven Ray Rider Jr. of Parker. “I feel better now that he’s behind bars, but that certainly doesn’t bring back Briggs.”

Rider on Feb. 27, 2015, is believed to have provided alcohol to Briggs Buck and his own nephew, who also was 16 at the time.

Both boys were drinking beer and liquor throughout the evening, including at Rider’s home, before the accident between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m.

Rider’s nephew was driving when the ATV crashed at Butternut and Spruce roads. After the crash, the boy and Rider, who reportedly was following in a pickup, drove away.

Briggs Buck, who died at the scene, was left roadside.

Rider pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly endangering another person and corruption of minors, both misdemeanors. He also pleaded guilty to drunken driving in an unrelated case stemming from an Oct. 29, 2015, arrest by state police.

For both cases combined, Rider was sentenced to serve 2 1/2 to 8 years in prison. Butler County Judge William Shaffer made Rider eligible for the state prison’s boot camp program. If he is accepted by prison officials and completes the program, Rider could be released earlier than his sentence mandates.

Initially, Rider faced additional charges in the ATV case including involuntary manslaughter. But Assistant District Attorney Terri Schultz said, based on all of the factors involved, “(Rider) pleaded guilty to the charges the prosecution could prove. It’s a good resolution to this case.”

Rider’s defense attorney, Joseph M. Kecskemethy, echoed that statement noting that everyone is saddened by the tragedy and sympatheic to the Buck family. However, he said his client “accepted responsibility for what he did... which was give the kids some beer.”

Several witnesses said during the sentencing hearing, Rider initially declined to make a statement. But, after prompting by the judge, he sobbed and told the room that he also was affected because he, too, cared about both boys.

Chuck Buck, speaking on behalf of his family, said the statement made him wince.

“(Rider was) 33 years old ... What does he need two 16-year-old friends for?” Bucks said, carefully selecting words like “coward,” “dregs of society,” and “predator” to describe Rider.

According to Chuck Buck, Rider barely knew his son before his death.

During the summer of 2014, Briggs Buck’s friend had worked for Rider at his construction company, Pride Construction, according to Chuck Buck. With the promise of $15 an hour and the hopes of buying a new car stereo, Briggs Bucks signed up to also work the coming summer for Rider, installing roofing shingles.

“Little did I know that decision would destroy his life,” Chuck Buck said.

Chuck Buck said Rider was apparently building his own home. And in February 2015 the temperatures were dipping double digits below zero, forcing the work indoors. Briggs Buck agreed to help Rider with that work, which included lifting and hanging drywall, Chuck Buck said.

Briggs Buck, on the evening before what would have been his first day of employment, was to sleep over at his friend’s house. The two teens --- Briggs Buck and Rider’s nephew --- were to go to the job site together the next morning, Chuck Buck said.

“Instead of a work experience, Rider gave them beer... Not the education from an adult business owner that I was looking for,” Chuck Buck said. “ ... He watched two 16 year old boys get drunk and get on a quad and drive away. While following them, he witnessed them crash right in front of him.”

Chuck Buck said people have told him that, “I’m convinced, when (Rider) went home that night he could have cared less about the boy he left lying on the road. Whether Briggs lived or died or whether (his nephew) made it home safe or not.”

The teenaged driver, who at the time of the crash had a blood-alcohol level at least four times the legal limit for teen drivers, in 2016 acknowledged guilt to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol. The teens’ case was prosecuted in Butler County Juvenile Court where a judge ordered the boy face a number of standard and uniquely catered restrictions that could last until the boy turns 21. Current juvenile court records relating to the case are not available for public view.

Chuck Buck clearly leans his blame to Rider: “He not only left my boy to die on an old back country road in weather that was fifteen degrees below zero, which is a vision that will never leave my mind, but he destroyed his nephew’s life that night also ... He made a juvenile delinquent out of his own nephew.”\