Amy Weiss could face a year in prison for the misdemeanor conviction

A Colorado teacher was found guilty Friday of killing a 10-year-old child while texting behind the wheel of her car.

Ashley Weiss, a middle school teacher from Timnath, about 9 miles southeast of Fort Collins, was found guilty by a jury of careless driving resulting in a death.

Around 6 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2023, Weiss was driving an Audi SUV and looking at her phone when she struck Oliver "Ollie" Stratton, who was riding his bike on Saddle Horn Drive in Timnath. Stratton was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to ABC 7 Denver, citing the local sheriff.

She admitted to having sent and received texts while driving just before the crash occurred -- and promptly deleting the messages, the Coloradoan reported. Just before her trial started on Dec. 16, Weiss pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence, the outlet reported.

Related: Driver, 19, Filmed Inhaling Laughing Gas Before 100 Mph Crash Pleads Guilty to Killing 3 Teenage Friends

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Weiss is set to be sentenced on the misdemeanor charges on March 7, where she faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, per KUSA 9.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Stratton's bereaved parents, Clarissa and Rod, said they didn't see the verdict as "justice" because Weiss got a comparatively light punishment. They are lobbying for legal changes that impose stiffer penalties on distracted driving -- including making Weiss' offense a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

"We call on Colorado and other states nationwide to pass tougher laws and harsher penalties that will truly hold distracted drivers accountable," said Stratton's parents. "The District Attorney's office did everything it could under the current system, but we all must do more."