On August 26th, Hulk Hogan's son Nick was terribly injured in a car crash in Florida. Also in the crash was Nick's friend, John Graziano, who was critically injured after the car smashed into the median, flipped over and finally crashed into a palm tree. Later that fall, the wrestling champ's son was charged with reckless driving, having a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher and having tinted windows on his Toyota Supra. On May 9th, after pleading "no contest," Nick Hogan (nee Bollea) was sentenced to eight months in prison. He was also charged with five years probation and one hundred hours community service per year. In addition, Nick must attend a DUI school and is forbidden to drink alcohol for the duration of his probation. Hulk and daughter Brooke begged the judge for leniency but John's family and girlfriend asked for punishment. His mother said, "I'm not seeking revenge. Only justice." John was in a coma after the accident and will probably need lifelong care.
What do you think? Does the punishment fit the crime?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-12-2008 @ 7:27AM
justelise said...
I don't know that the punishment will fit the crime, because we don't know how much of the sentence Nick will actually serve. Personally I think it's extremely lenient.
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5-12-2008 @ 8:29AM
Karen said...
I agree with Justelise.
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5-12-2008 @ 9:15AM
Bash said...
We don't have all the facts about this so I won't argue in one direction or the other.
Let me just say this: people who drink and drive are f***ing stupid.
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5-12-2008 @ 11:46AM
Jennifer said...
He ONLY got 8 months? That's not lenient that's just wrong. I don't give a crap who he is, he needs more jail time than that. He has permanently screwed up someone's life. He needs more than that lousy sentence, aside from he and his family needing a good swift kick in the arse...
5-12-2008 @ 12:07PM
wraith808 said...
Has anyone considered that the other guy was most likely drunk also? And that both of them were injured. Of course not... and what's putting him in jail going to *actually* do. He's not a menace to society or anything... longer probation, more community service, more fine, not drinking. Those are what will hurt.
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5-12-2008 @ 2:09PM
Franklin said...
Last time I checked, it wasn't against the law to *ride* in a car after drinking.
I can't seriously believe you think someone who drives drunk isn't a threat to society. That's one of the stupidest comments I've ever heard.
Putting that dumbass in jail for 8 months is going to *actually* keep him off the streets for 8 months. Do you seriously believe this little asshole is not going to drink because some judge tells him not to? The only way to insure this butthead doesn't drink and drive is to haul him away...and for a lot longer than 8 months, too.
5-12-2008 @ 11:06PM
Malren said...
"He's not a menace to society or anything..."
A drunk asshole JUST like him killed my uncle, depriving him of life and of us from his company forever. How are drunk asshole selfish prick drivers NOT a menace to society?
That was one hell of a stupid comment.
5-12-2008 @ 9:11PM
wraith808 said...
It wasn't a dumb comment- not a menace to society in the same way that someone that goes out and buys a gun and kills is... the same people that they release because of sentences like this. Take away his license (permanently), put him on probation, give him fines, make him take courses. Sometimes people shouldn't have knee jerk reactions to stuff like this- and yes, my cousin was killed by a drunk driver and I still feel the same way. Jail doesn't help. Taking away the privilege to drive does. After he serves his eight months, how long do you think before he's on the street again. Right. And I've seen it happen. So instead of considering this, you'd rather some emotional reaction/sentence and then don't solve the root of the problem. That really works. And what I meant about the other guy being drunk, is that he bought into it. No it's not a crime to ride drunk. But if the other person isn't your designated driver, it is stupid.
5-12-2008 @ 11:57PM
Lenny said...
Wraith, I have to respectfully disagree with you and side with the others. Seriously, an automobile is as deadly a weapon as a gun, so I don't see the difference. The thug that buys a gun with malicious intent to do harm, or the moron that gets into a car drunk with thoughtless abandon: no difference in the outcome. Both are making a decision to put lives at risk. Just because one does it with malice while the other does it with drugs and idiocy does not make it different.
Taking away this spoiled kid's license isn't going to guarantee he won't drive any more than taking the gun away from the thug is going to guarantee he won't just get another one. On the other hand, while both are behind bars there is no way they are going to kill or harm any innocent person.
I don't think any of the commenters who disagreed with you are making knee-jerk comments, but rather making pragmatical observations based on past events we've all read about. I really wish revoking a license and giving someone community service coupled with education would do the job, but it seems more often than not, especially in the case of these overpriveleged kids, it simply does nothing.
5-12-2008 @ 12:35PM
Peter Lynn said...
Wraith808, did you just seriously suggest that John Graziano deserved his injuries because he was drunk? Way to blame the victim.
And then did you seriously suggest that a drunk driver is not a menace to society? Tell that to anyone who's lost a loved one to a drunk driver.
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5-12-2008 @ 1:14PM
Beanie said...
Seeing as how Nick Hogan continually bragged about getting out of many many traffic tickets where he was going in excess of 100 MPH just by saying he was Hulk Hogan's son is reason enough to put him in jail for a long time. He is incredibly irresponsible and should be punished.
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5-12-2008 @ 3:22PM
carlie said...
I think all of his community service hours should have to be spent at the hospital, helping take physical care of his friend John. This way he has to face eye to eye the
consequence of his actions and the impact it's had on others.
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5-12-2008 @ 4:40PM
Ben said...
I'm confused, he had a BAC of above 0.02... How old is he? If he's above 21 isn't that a legal amount provided his BAC didn't surpass 0.08?
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5-12-2008 @ 4:40PM
E said...
First of all, what most of you probably don't realize is that injuring another person, much less a close friend, and having to live with that for the rest of your life, is likely the harshest punishment he could be given. Putting him in prison will serve no purpose other than to make an example of him with the idea that the publicity from the case will serve as a deterrent for other would-be drunk drivers. Secondly, .02 BAC is not drunk, and represents probably less than 1 beer for most people that weigh more than an 8 year old, which means the accident was likely just that, an accident and not the result of intoxication, thus DUI (driving under the influence) and not DWI (driving while intoxicated). It seems to me that the majority of Americans today (as confirmed by the flow of flames toward wraith, seem to support retaliatory laws to satsify some sort of pent up need for revenge. Accidents happen people, negiligence is not a synonym for accident or mistake. Prison is an answer but not for this question. How about saving our tax dollars for prosecuting and imprisoning the real criminals of society.
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5-13-2008 @ 12:09PM
Nohg said...
Guns do not equal cars. That is a very poor comparison going both ways. Guns require little more than I.D to acquire in many areas. Cars, on the other hand, require training courses, insurance and a licensing process. Therefor to suggest that they are of the smae lethality is foolish. Put the little asshole in jail for eight months. Suspend his license for life and make him clean up highway trash for those 500 hours so he can remember what an idiot he is and how he can never drive again. Ever.
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5-27-2008 @ 9:23PM
Jeremysworld said...
His friend was dump enough to get in a car with a person thats had alcohol knowing or not and also didnt wear a seat belt. I think nicks sentance is justice. For the rest of his life he is going to remember that because of a stupid chioce, his best friend now is a photato. 8 months in prision is a long time to think about life. If he were over 21 he would have been under the legal limit. Its not like he hagged down a 12 pack held a gun to his friends head and made him get in and not wear a seatbelt. They were both dumb for doing it. i got a friend who got in a fight at a party. He hit the kid once the kid fell down then got back up and went home. The next day the kid died. They got him for crimal trustpasing and murder. 6 years in prison. so nick is damn lucky and i hope to god he learns a lesson because next time he messes up, the judge will make a fine example of him.
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6-02-2008 @ 12:47PM
sksk13 said...
I'd have to agree with wraith and also add that yes Nick may have been driving but you also have to take into consideration that his friend got in the car with Nick making it his fault also. Since he did get into the car he wasnt thinking about what could happen and must also take responsibility for riding with him. He could of called someone to come and get him but no he decided to get into the car which means it's not all Nick's fault. And plus I bet you he was also dirinking and who knows what was happening in the car at the time of the accident. Both of them may have been messing around not just Nick. It's a shame that he did get very badly injured but they both made the decision to get into the car so they both lshould be of blame
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6-10-2008 @ 2:11AM
Steve said...
I see so many people saying he was drunk this and that. Did it ever cross minds to think that they are both two minors, and he has a car with more horsepower than 98% of people in the U.S.A. He is young, not an experienced driver, and made a wrong choice to show off and try to race on public roads. The passenger could have told him to stop and demand for him to stop. But im sure that he was cheering along and adding to the adrenalin rush.
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6-13-2008 @ 10:46AM
Jason said...
Yes drinking and driving is wrong. And unfortunately his friend wont be able to do anything ever again. But you also have to think about how he wasn't wearing a seatbelt also. That was his decision. But I'm not going to comment on the punishment because I dont know what is good enough and what isn't
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6-17-2008 @ 9:39AM
leslie said...
He wasnt drink. I think its riddiculous to point to drunk driving as a reason, etc. .08 is the legal limit to drive, he blew a .02. If he was 21 it wouldnt even be a factor. I agree he was recklessly driving, but so do most male kids his age. I believe it was an accident and a sad one, but I dont believe he should be punished so severely. I think if this wasnt in the spotlight that the two families could have worked past this, but because they are famous they will both try for as much money as possible.
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