Nick Hogan found guilty, sentenced to 8-months in jail

[Phantom]

May 09, 2008

Nick Bollea (Hogan) was sentenced today to eight months in jail for his involvement in driving a car that resulted in his friend, John Graziano, being injured. Bollea had faced up to five years following being charged for reckless driving involving serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony.

He was also given five years of probation starting today with no alcohol during the full probation period. His license was revoked until Nick turns 21.

Nick pled “no contest” via his lawyer before Judge Philip Federico at the Pinellas (Fla.) County Court this afternoon. The family of John Graziano had asked for no less than one year in jail for Bollea.

“I wish I had the ability to rewind and get people to think,” Judge Federico said. “You can’t undo what happened to John.”

The Judge did not categorize the incident as an “accident” but a conscious series of choices that led to a bad ending. The Judge was impressed by Nick’s move to a lot of public service since the accident. “But it is not enough to take away from the serious of the offense.”

Before sentencing, members of both the Bollea and Graziano family spoke before the court. While the Bollea's asked for leniency, the Graziano asked for toughness by the courts.

Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan), father of Nick, described John "another part of his family." He said Nick is different than the character you may seen on the reality show Hogan Knows Best and Nick should not be judged by what they see on television. He asked for Nick to be treated fairly by the courts.

"We won't give up on John and I ask you to not give up on Nick," Hogan told the judge.

Nick's mother, Linda, broke down during her speech before the court. "I know my son never meant to hurt his best friend. He loves him so much."

"Everyday I miss being with John," Nick said before the court. "I feel terrible. There is no court punishment that will make-up for what happened to John." He turned to the family of Graziano during his speech issued a direct apology to them for his actions and the accident.

Nick admitted he had not driven a car since the accident.

In an emotional speech, Edward Graziano, father of John, said "Nick Bollea destroyed my son's future." Graziano described the Bollea's family laissez-faire attitude following the accident has been horrible. He noted that Nick will be okay while John will need nursing care for the rest of his life.

John's sister also spoke stating that she has "lost her brother." John's mother, Debra, and girlfriend, Ashley Berry, also spoke. Edward and Ashley both told stories of Nick visiting John in the hospital but spending a lot of his time skateboarding and shooting Nerf guns.

Ashley also revealed that Nick's license plate "COEHSP" stands for "Capable of Eluding High Speed Pursuit."

The judge, all lawyers involved and Nick watched a video put together by Pinellas County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Rosenwasser. The television was turned away from those seated in the court. It was a video of the wreck and John Graziano's condition following the wreck.

Nick changed his facial impressions very little during the case but seemed unsettled during the video showing.

Nick came to the court with his sister, Brooke, at his side shortly before the 1:30 p.m. court hearing. Inside the court, his parents Hulk and Linda sat separated by Brooke and Linda's mother. Linda and Hulk are currently involved in a nasty divorce battle.

Nick was involved in a serious accident in Clearwater, Fla., on the evening of August 26, 2007. Nick was driving a Toyota Supra with 22-year-old John Graziano in the passenger seat. Although speeds are disputed, a police report estimated the car was driving 60 miles-per-hour, well above the 40 mph speed limit.

Nick was tested as under the influence for someone his age (17). It was said that Nick's father, Terry, provided him with alcohol earlier in the day. Nick was charged as an adult because the seriousness of the charges.

A civil case issued by the Graziano family to Nick and the Bollea family is still pending.

[gwen]

Way too light a sentence IMO, but I am not surprised considering the money that his father has. Hogan and his wife have certainly done a shitty job of raising their 2 kids.

So very sad for John and his family.

[gwen]

Hulk Hogan's Son Enters 'No Contest' Plea
By Mark Dagostino

Terry "Hulk" Hogan's 17-year-old son, Nick Bollea, entered a plea of "no contest" in a Florida courtroom Friday on charges of felony reckless driving.

The charges stem from the August 2007 car crash that left his friend, passenger John Graziano, critically injured to this day.

As part of the plea agreement, Bollea's attorneys asked that their client not serve more than one year in county jail and five years of probation.

Without the plea arrangement, Bollea could have faced up to five years in state prison.

The sentencing portion of the hearing began immediately following Nick's plea, which streamed live on TMZ.com.

Hulk Hogan (real name: Terry Bollea), his daughter Brooke and his estranged wife Linda were all present and seated near one other in the Clearwater, Fla., courtroom.


Prosecution and Family Speak
During the sentencing portion of the hearing, prosecutors presented, among other evidence, the statements of 12 witnesses who claimed Bollea was drag racing on wet roads at the time of the accident as well as records of his being ticketed for speeding in the past.

Ed Graziano, father of John Graziano, then made an emotional statement to the court: "John was my first born son, and the first chance to carry on my family name." Describing the day before the accident, he said John "was healthy, he was safe, and he was strong. He was a hero. He was a United States Marine. He was willing to put his life in harm’s way to protect his country’s freedom, [but] what Al Queda could not do to my son, Nick did to my son in minutes."

Now it is questionable whether John will ever be able to communicate with his family and friends, said his father, adding that that his son's mental and physical disabilities would be permanent. He also said, "Nick has shown no remorse for what he has done for my son's life."

John's sister, Kristen Carson, also spoke, saying of Nick, "We have never once heard him apologize. He has never said sorry."

John Graziano's long-term girlfriend then spoke, talking of dreams of a beach house and having children together – dreams that are now gone.


The Hogans Respond
Nick Bollea spoke on his own behalf, telling the court, "I miss John being around me all the time. I know this has been extremely difficult for the Grazianos, and it has also been extremely difficult to my family, and I feel terrible about it."

Apologizing for what occurred, he said, "Every single day I think about the accident, and I think about John. There will never be a day in my life that I don't."

Hulk Hogan, wearing a black business suit and black 'do rag, assumed a somber tone, saying, "Our family has been devastated and pretty much torn apart by this situation also. John was like a family member to us."

Of his own son, he said, "Nick is not the person that he's been asked to be portrayed on TV. ... Nick is a good person. He is kind, he is gentle, he's compassionate, and he doesn't have a bad bone in his body. And people fail to realize that Nick is still a 17-year-old child."

Nick's sister Brooke said, "I'm not here to smooth things over, or to point fingers … These were two boys, two friends having fun together."

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 21,00.html

[Phantom]

I had watched the live feed on TMZ.com and some of the best quotes are left out of that article. For instance, Hulk Hogan claiming that the media was the reason they were in court today. And sister Brooke claiming that the only reason Nick was being prosecuted was because they, the Hogan family, are celebrities.

[Arubalover]

That little SOB hasn't learned a damn thing from this. When he gets out of jail he will be right back behind the wheel. He is damn lucky he has a rich mommy and daddy. Even if his friend's family sues, what are they going to get from him? Unless Hulk Hogan offers up some money, they won't be able to collect anything other than money from the insurance company.

[DiamondDot]

I don't excuse Nick's actions at all. Frankly, I was afraid he would get no jail time. Hope he serves the full 8 months. Doubt he will.

John Graziano should be held partially accountable for his actions that night as well. It was not the first time he was in a car with Nick driving recklessly. John knew Nick had been drinking. John did not put on his seat belt. Plus, I would guess that he was egging the racers on.