JIM KILL
TampaBay Vettes
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
Danny Jacobs, the man who authorities say was racing Nick Bollea before Bollea crashed his car in August, pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge of reckless driving.
Jacobs, 22, was sentenced to 90 days of probation and fined $500. His driver's license was suspended for 90 days and he was ordered to serve 25 hours of community service.
Authorities say that on Aug. 26, Jacobs was racing Bollea, 17, in Clearwater before Bollea's Toyota Supra hit a palm tree, critically injuring passenger John Graziano. Graziano, an Iraq war veteran, suffered a severe head injury and remains hospitalized in Tampa.
Bollea, the son of former wrestler Hulk Hogan, was charged with reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. His case is still winding through the judicial system.
While disposing of Jacobs' case, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Robert Dittmer told Jacobs that normally he gives those accused of driving recklessly a lecture to serve as a wakeup call before anyone is injured. Unfortunately, he said, that scenario has already unfolded.
"You understand when you drive like this you put lives in jeopardy," Dittmer asked Jacobs. "You understand that?"
The Dunedin man said he did.
Dittmer could have sentenced Jacobs to 90 days in jail, the maximum sentence. He opted not to because Graziano was a friend of Jacobs' and had been grievously injured.
Previously, Jacobs' attorney, Nathaniel Kidder, had pointed out that Jacobs had never been charged with a misdemeanor or felony, though Jacobs had racked up a number of speeding and careless driving tickets.
Kidder asked that the judge withhold an adjudication of guilt because such a finding could increase Jacobs' liability in the event Graziano's family decides to sue him. Instead, Judge Dittmer adjudicated Jacobs guilty.
There has been no indication, Kidder said outside court, that the family intends to sue Jacobs.
Through his attorney, Jacobs declined comment.
Tampa Tribune 02/29/08
Danny Jacobs, the man who authorities say was racing Nick Bollea before Bollea crashed his car in August, pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge of reckless driving.
Jacobs, 22, was sentenced to 90 days of probation and fined $500. His driver's license was suspended for 90 days and he was ordered to serve 25 hours of community service.
Authorities say that on Aug. 26, Jacobs was racing Bollea, 17, in Clearwater before Bollea's Toyota Supra hit a palm tree, critically injuring passenger John Graziano. Graziano, an Iraq war veteran, suffered a severe head injury and remains hospitalized in Tampa.
Bollea, the son of former wrestler Hulk Hogan, was charged with reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. His case is still winding through the judicial system.
While disposing of Jacobs' case, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Robert Dittmer told Jacobs that normally he gives those accused of driving recklessly a lecture to serve as a wakeup call before anyone is injured. Unfortunately, he said, that scenario has already unfolded.
"You understand when you drive like this you put lives in jeopardy," Dittmer asked Jacobs. "You understand that?"
The Dunedin man said he did.
Dittmer could have sentenced Jacobs to 90 days in jail, the maximum sentence. He opted not to because Graziano was a friend of Jacobs' and had been grievously injured.
Previously, Jacobs' attorney, Nathaniel Kidder, had pointed out that Jacobs had never been charged with a misdemeanor or felony, though Jacobs had racked up a number of speeding and careless driving tickets.
Kidder asked that the judge withhold an adjudication of guilt because such a finding could increase Jacobs' liability in the event Graziano's family decides to sue him. Instead, Judge Dittmer adjudicated Jacobs guilty.
There has been no indication, Kidder said outside court, that the family intends to sue Jacobs.
Through his attorney, Jacobs declined comment.
Tampa Tribune 02/29/08
