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Plea Expected In Bollea Crash Case

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 8, 2008

Updated: 05/08/2008 06:11 pm

CLEARWATER - Nick Bollea is expected to withdraw his not guilty plea Friday to a reckless driving charge and throw himself on the mercy of the presiding judge.

He faces a sentence ranging from probation to five years in prison.

Bollea, the 17-year-old son of former wrestler Hulk Hogan, entered the not guilty plea after being charged in November in the Aug. 26 crash that critically injured his passenger, John Graziano, now 23.

"I expect that he will change his plea," Assistant State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser said today. The move does not represent any kind of deal between prosecutors and Bollea's attorneys, Rosenwasser said.

Bollea's defense attorney Kevin Hayslett could not be reached for comment. It could not be determined whether Bollea will plead no contest or guilty to the charge leveled against him – reckless driving involving serious bodily injury.

Graziano's guardian filed a lawsuit in March against Hulk Hogan and his family for injuries that left the Iraq war veteran in a semiconscious state after the wreck.

Guardian Peter Musante is suing the famed former wrestler, whose real name is Terry Bollea, as well as Bollea's estranged wife, Linda, who is divorcing him. The suit also names Nick Bollea as a defendant.

Millions of dollars are needed to take care of Graziano, who currently resides in the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, said George Tragos, the attorney representing Graziano in the civil lawsuit.

Tragos said the entire Graziano family will be at the hearing Friday. Family members are expected to give the presiding judge their opinion, he said. Tragos declined to say whether members of the family will be urging the judge to give Bollea the maximum five years.

"Tomorrow we will say more," Tragos said.

If Bollea is adjudicated guilty, it could strengthen the civil suit, Tragos said. If the judge withholds adjudication of guilt, it would not strengthen the civil suit as much as an adjudication of guilt would, he said.

Whether Bollea receives probation or a prison term will have no bearing on the suit, Tragos said.

The teen was driving a Toyota Supra when it smacked into a tree. The driver whom police say Bollea was racing, Danny Jacobs, 22, also is being sued.

Part of Graziano's frontal lobe had to be removed, but he responds to heat, touch, and there's eye movement. On occasion, he has breathed without a ventilator.

Before the wreck, Bollea - at the wheel of the Supra - and Jacobs - at the wheel of a Dodge Viper - were racing through downtown Clearwater, police say. The Supra, which came from the factory with 300 to 330 horsepower, had been souped up to have more than 400 horsepower, the suit says.

While Bollea is expected to enter a plea Friday, Jacobs pleaded no contest in February to a charge of reckless driving and was sentenced to probation.

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

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