Nick Hogan Driven to Jail

Fri., May. 9, 2008 1:26 PM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Tim Boyles/Getty Images

Nick Hogan is drifting to jail.

Angst-ridden, but appearing ready to accept his fate, the son of pro-wrestling legend Hulk Hogan pleaded no contest today to a felony charge of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. The plea, entered in a Pinellas County, Fla., courtroom, stemmed from an August car crash that left passenger John Graziano in critical condition.

"Every single day I think about the accident…and pray for John every chance I get," said Hogan, whose real name is Nick Bollea. "There will never be a day in my life where I ever will forget this. I know for a fact that I've apologized to the Grazianos…I do genuinely mean that, I'm terribly sorry."

But Judge Philip Federico showed little mercy, sentencing the 17-year-old to eight months in county jail along with five years' probation and 500 hours of community service for drag-racing under the influence of alcohol and causing the Aug. 26 wreck.

Federico also mandated a no-alcohol period for the duration of probation, ordered Hogan's license be revoked for the next three years and required the Hogan Knows Best star to attend DUI school within the first year.

Hogan was remanded into deputies' custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately concurrent with his probation.

Graziano, a 22-year-old Marine who had just completed a tour of duty in Iraq, remains comatose. Graziano, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, may have suffered brain damage caused by swelling of his brain. His family was on hand to ask the judge to come down hard on the younger Hogan.

Federico imposed the sentence despite citing a letter written by Hogan in which he said he understood the consequences of what he had done and was willing to face whatever punishment the judge decreed.

"I think he's learned and understands that the kind of driving and history of driving record he had will not be tolerated in the future," said Federico. "I think there is an understanding of what happened and there's an early acceptance of responsibility."

Earlier in the hearing, Assistant State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser, at the urging of the Hogan family, initially asked the judge for the five years' probation, though with severe conditions including a revocation of his driving privileges.

"All of the witnesses I spoke to, each one was very clear that the defendant's driving was reckless," said Assistant State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser. "The speed at which he drove on those wet roads on those wet days was completely unacceptable."

The prosecutor cited several speeding tickets Hogan received in the two years prior to the crash, when he was clocked driving 30-40 miles per hour over the speed limit.

"What I want the defendant to know…is that this was not an accident. For it to be an accident…you have to believe that this was some act of God. But if you look at his driving history and the choices he made on Aug. 27, you can indicate that this was not an accident," said Rosenwasser. "He was the one who made the choice to drive the way he did down the road."

After a stone-faced Hogan watched footage of the wrecked yellow Supra in the courtroom which John Graziano was pulled out of, his father, Ed Graziano, made a statement to the court.

"John was everything I hoped and dreamed he could be. He was healthy safe and strong and a hero. A United States Marine and a hero to his county," the elder Graziano said before enumerating all his son's medals. "However, on Aug. 26, 2007 everything changed because of the senseless acts of recklessness by Nick Bollea...Not only did he destroy my son's life but also those that John loved. What al-Qaida couldn't do to my son, Bollea did in minutes."

"My life consists of 10 hours each day watching my son suffer…Nick's life will go on, however, it is still unknown whether my son will come home let alone survive. He'll need round-the-clock nursing care for the rest of his life."

Graziano then called on the judge to bring down the hammer on Hogan

"Nick seems to believe he can get away with anything, and it's time for us to put a stop to it. Nick is a repeat offender and every time he gets away with it he becomes emboldened…every time he gets behind the wheel he takes it to the extreme."

That was followed by tearful testimony from other Graziano family members relating the loss they suffered due to Hogan's "irresponsible actions."

Afterwards, the Hulkster, whose real name is Terry Bollea, spoke on behalf of his beleaguered son.

"Our family has been devastated and pretty much torn apart by this situation also. You need to understand that John was like a family member to us, and he was at our house all the time. I watched his relationship day in and day out, the way he interacted with our son and my daughter, Brooke. He celebrated his last birthday with us.

"I know it's not easy for Nick to fall into the shadow of being a celebrity's son, and the way I watch the press and stuff here today, it's not true. But my son has been unfairly attacked by the media simply because of his on-air personality," he continued. "Nick is not the person that he's been asked to be portrayed on TV. People think it was reality, but it was a scripted show. But what people see on TV, it's just a persona. His on-air persona, but it's not really who Nick is. Nick is kind, he's gentle and compassionate, and doesn't have a bad bone in his body."

He concluded: "My son has really been deeply affected by what occurred in this accident...what I would ask you, your Honor, is that...He be judged fairly."

Sister Brooke tearfully told the judge how Nick and John were as close as brothers and confided how the sibling's newfound celebrity via their reality show has helped tear the two families apart to the point where they're "becoming enemies."

(Originally published May 9, 2008, at 11:38 a.m. PT.)

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61 Comments

1.

jess_m Fri, May 9, 2008 12:41 PM

i live in florida. i doubt that this kid will get any incarceration whatsoever, his father has a lot of politico friends. but if he does, i suggest this. sentence the kid in some way to keep the highway where he had the accident clean, as we have work crews here in fl. that way he will be forced regularly come to terms with the consequences of his actions, which i think is the best form of punishment.
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2.

jess_m Fri, May 9, 2008 12:41 PM

i live in florida. i doubt that this kid will get any incarceration whatsoever, his father has a lot of politico friends. but if he does, i suggest this. sentence the kid in some way to keep the highway where he had the accident clean, as we have work crews here in fl. that way he will be forced regularly come to terms with the consequences of his actions, which i think is the best form of punishment.
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3.

angel Fri, May 9, 2008 12:56 PM

i live in florida and if he was a problem then why would he be living here WITH his family. He hasnt done anything to harm anybody. His friend is the one who got the alcohol for him and if his parents didnt have a problem with him drinking then the repoters need to keep thier mouth shut. He will not be getting any hard time because his daddy is HULK HOGAN AND HE HAS SOME MONEY. Hs whole family got some money.
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4.

joe Fri, May 9, 2008 12:57 PM

what happened was bad all the way around. but what the **** was a 22 year old man doing running around with a kid that is 17? that is a * that i would like to see anwsered.
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5.

mrobvious Fri, May 9, 2008 1:01 PM

I sounds like the guy was forced at will to participate in a illegal drag race.Give ma a break. The guy was an adult and made the decision to enter a dangerous situation. I am sure this Hogan kid didn't handcuff him in the passenger seat.
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6.

misterobvious Fri, May 9, 2008 1:04 PM

I am also sure Hogan made him unstrap his seatbelt too?
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7.

givemeabreak Fri, May 9, 2008 1:05 PM

I sounds like the 21 year old guy was forced at gun point to participate in a illegal drag race. Give ma a break. The guy was an adult and made the decision to enter a dangerous situation. I am sure this Hogan kid didn't handcuff him in the passenger seat and tell him not to fasten his seat belt!
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8.

southwestrvernm Fri, May 9, 2008 1:28 PM

Didnt nicks father buy the beer? Whats happening there?
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9.

charmagne Fri, May 9, 2008 1:32 PM

AWWWWWWW ITS NICE TO SEE EVERYONE HAS SYMPATHY.........LETS ALL BLAME THE COMATOSE MARINE....CUZ GOD FORBID WE BLAME THE RICH WHITE KID...GOD KNOWS THEY DO NO WRONG...HEY HERES AN IDEA WHY DONT WHY SLAP SOME CUFFS ON THE COMATOSE MAN AND HAVE HIM DO NICKS TIME BECAUSE HE HASNT SUFFERED AT ALL THROUGH ANY OF THIS..... WHY DONT U ******* PEOPLE GET A LIFE!!!!I HOPE NICK HOGAN GETS EXACTLY WAT HE DESERVES, WATEVER IT MAY BE!!!
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10.

joanna Fri, May 9, 2008 1:47 PM

I was in shock when i saw what happend lass augest or when this took place because i watched HOGAN knows best and i remeber when TERRY AKA HULK HOGAN took him to the police station and had a officer show what can happen when you do drage racing if you ask me NICK got what he derved may be he will think about things befor he does drag racing agian iam not say that his mom and dad did not do a good job on rasing him bbut he made a missstake like many of us have done i hope that his will be a lesson for NICK and alll young adults be for they drag race.
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11.

Ginger Fri, May 9, 2008 2:14 PM

As always the rich spolied kids never get hard time. Prissy baby boy.
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12.

Marco Fri, May 9, 2008 2:17 PM

Hulk bought the booze. Any charges for him? Kid should have gotten more time, he has a record already. He won't do the 8 months, out in 4. {daddy's boy}
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13.

Iliana Fri, May 9, 2008 2:21 PM

Charmage, your comments are way out of line and in no way respond to anyone else's comments. People are pointing the lack of Nick's culpability. Yes, he drove recklessly and while under the influence. That being said, his friend knew he had a tendency to drive recklessly, knew he'd been drinking, and knew they were drag racing. There was an element of free will in the situation. Like the other commentators pointed out, the friend was not forced to get into the car. And, it is a good question: why was a 22 year old man "best friends" with a 17 year old? As the consenting adult in the situation, don't you think he should be held more responsible than Nick, a minor? It is sad he's comatose, but he's that way as a result of a decision he made. If someone gets drunk and drives and dies, it's sad, but it's their own fault. Same goes here.
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14.

Iliana Fri, May 9, 2008 2:21 PM

Charmage, your comments are way out of line and in no way respond to anyone else's comments. People are pointing the lack of Nick's culpability. Yes, he drove recklessly and while under the influence. That being said, his friend knew he had a tendency to drive recklessly, knew he'd been drinking, and knew they were drag racing. There was an element of free will in the situation. Like the other commentators pointed out, the friend was not forced to get into the car. And, it is a good question: why was a 22 year old man "best friends" with a 17 year old? As the consenting adult in the situation, don't you think he should be held more responsible than Nick, a minor? It is sad he's comatose, but he's that way as a result of a decision he made. If someone gets drunk and drives and dies, it's sad, but it's their own fault. Same goes here.
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15.

lilbit Fri, May 9, 2008 2:23 PM

crashes just as serious as his happen everyday!and none of them get the media attention nicks got
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16.

boogietheboog Fri, May 9, 2008 2:27 PM

I DON'T THINK THAT IS ONLY NICK'S FAULT I THINK THAT THE PASSNGER WANTED TO GO FAST TO WHAT YOUNG ADULT WANTS TO GO SLOW I THINK IT IS BOTH GUYS FAULT
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17.

andie Fri, May 9, 2008 2:34 PM

I agree that this is very tragic HOWEVER, the driver does not deserve to take all the responsibility just because he walked away. Anybody who does not wear a seatbelt these days (where we know better) has already rolled their own dice. I used to work in an insurance office where I did typing * YOU COULD TELL BY READING THE 'INJURIES' LIST if a person had been wearing their seatbelt or not before you ever got to the spot where it said if they were or not. Does that tell you all anything? WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS please.
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18.

andie Fri, May 9, 2008 2:36 PM

or expect the consequences, just like you do with drinking and driving. [this is a continuation of the post I made a minute ago] Again PLEASE WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS. The driver doesn't have to have been drinking for it to destroy your life if you aren't wearing one.
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19.

Vanessa Fri, May 9, 2008 2:45 PM

Bet they keep pretty boy in protective custody. Doubt he will be acting like he's "all that" in jsil. LOL
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20.

vcmc Fri, May 9, 2008 2:47 PM

its a person's choice to put a seatbelt on or not, the following quote is ridiculous "Not only did he destroy my son's life but also those that John loved. What al-Qaida couldn't do to my son, Bollea did in minutes." and I think the family needs to quit putting all the blame on the Bolla family, kids will be kids and things happen. The family needs to deal with the hand God gave them and quit the blame game, its really uncalled for. I feel that Nick received a good sentence but there are just somethings things that have been said that are really uncalled for.
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