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Judge Orders Pre-Sentence Investigation In Bollea Case

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Updated: 02/19/2008 11:55 pm

CLEARWATER - A Pinellas County circuit judge Tuesday ordered a pre-sentence investigation for Nick Bollea, who is accused of seriously injuring a friend in a single-car wreck Aug. 26.

Bollea is the son of Terry Bollea, who wrestled as Hulk Hogan.

A pre-sentence investigation is used when a range of punishments for a crime is being considered. It can play a role if Bollea's defense attorney, Kevin Hayslett, and the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office work toward a plea deal or if the case goes to trial.

Under sentencing guidelines, Bollea, 17, qualifies for a sentence ranging from probation up to five years in prison, Hayslett said.

Hayslett said civil infractions such as traffic tickets usually are not taken into account, but he said they could be in this case because Bollea had a number of speeding tickets on his record when the accident left his passenger, John Graziano, with brain damage.

Bollea, who is charged with reckless driving involving serious bodily injury, a felony, remains free on $10,000 bail.

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Chris Helinger also set the next date for a pretrial hearing, April 14.

Graziano, who served in the Iraq war, remains at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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