CLEARWATER, Florida — Nick Hogan, 17, the son of professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, was sentenced to eight months in jail on Friday for causing a car crash in which his passenger suffered severe head injuries. The sentencing only seemed to trigger even more Internet buzz about whether justice was served or whether celebrity status "puts you above the law," as one blogger put it.
An AOL news poll released on Sunday found that 49 percent of the more than 100,000 people who voted said "the punishment was too little." The poll reported that 38 percent said the sentence was "just right," while 13 percent said it was "too much." One blogger commented on AOL that "they new [sic] what they were doing and went with it." Another described Nick Hogan as the "demon seed of two morons."
Nick Hogan, whose real name is Nick Bollea, pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless driving with serious bodily harm. Hogan totaled a Toyota Supra while driving at a high rate of speed on August 26, 2007. His passenger, John Graziano, 22, suffered severe head injuries and remains in a semiconscious state, according to Reuters.
A variety of Internet Web sites, from TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online) to TMZ.com were buzzing about the fairness of the sentence, as well as about Hulk Hogan's controversial headgear in court. He wore a black bandana that was widely seen as being disrespectful to the judge. While many courtrooms do not have a formal dress code, it is generally considered good manners for men to remove hats (and bandanas). Ron Stuart, a public information officer for the Sixth Judicial Court, told TBO.com that "it would have caused a big scene to have him take it off." Bloggers showed their ire, telling TBO.com that "this shows that celebrity status puts you above the law" and that he "should have removed the do-rag."
Judge Phillip Federico told Nick Hogan, "There has to be some punishment," before handing down the sentence. The sentence also includes five years' probation and 500 hours of community service. Federico also suspended Hogan's driver license for three years. Graziano's parents asked that Hogan be sentenced to some jail time, according to Reuters. They are suing Hulk Hogan and his son for "millions of dollars in damages."
The Hogans became a celebrity family after their lives were chronicled in the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best. Nick Hogan also worked for a time as a professional drifter.
What this means to you: Regardless of how you view the verdict, Nick Hogan won't be behind the wheel of a car for a long time. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
An AOL news poll released on Sunday found that 49 percent of the more than 100,000 people who voted said "the punishment was too little." The poll reported that 38 percent said the sentence was "just right," while 13 percent said it was "too much." One blogger commented on AOL that "they new [sic] what they were doing and went with it." Another described Nick Hogan as the "demon seed of two morons."
Nick Hogan, whose real name is Nick Bollea, pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless driving with serious bodily harm. Hogan totaled a Toyota Supra while driving at a high rate of speed on August 26, 2007. His passenger, John Graziano, 22, suffered severe head injuries and remains in a semiconscious state, according to Reuters.
A variety of Internet Web sites, from TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online) to TMZ.com were buzzing about the fairness of the sentence, as well as about Hulk Hogan's controversial headgear in court. He wore a black bandana that was widely seen as being disrespectful to the judge. While many courtrooms do not have a formal dress code, it is generally considered good manners for men to remove hats (and bandanas). Ron Stuart, a public information officer for the Sixth Judicial Court, told TBO.com that "it would have caused a big scene to have him take it off." Bloggers showed their ire, telling TBO.com that "this shows that celebrity status puts you above the law" and that he "should have removed the do-rag."
Judge Phillip Federico told Nick Hogan, "There has to be some punishment," before handing down the sentence. The sentence also includes five years' probation and 500 hours of community service. Federico also suspended Hogan's driver license for three years. Graziano's parents asked that Hogan be sentenced to some jail time, according to Reuters. They are suing Hulk Hogan and his son for "millions of dollars in damages."
The Hogans became a celebrity family after their lives were chronicled in the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best. Nick Hogan also worked for a time as a professional drifter.
What this means to you: Regardless of how you view the verdict, Nick Hogan won't be behind the wheel of a car for a long time. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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