Nick Hogan Live In Court, Pleading No Contest
 Friday, May 9th, 2008

Nick Bollea aka Hogan

Nick Bollea, also known as Nick Hogan, is in the courtroom in Pinellas County in Florida right now.  He has entered a plea of "no contest" to the charges stemming from the August 2007 incident in which Nick crashed his Toyota Supra after drinking and street racing it.  Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea, Linda "Hogan" Bollea, Brooke Hogan, and Nick's grandparents are also there.  It is all live on webcast right now here.

Marine John Graziano, who was twice deployed to Iraq before suffering the devastating accident in August that put him into a coma, is still in need of longterm care and is in only a semiconscious state.

John's girlfriend read a letter to the court.  "It's time Nick is treated...like any other citizen," she read, and referenced Nick's past speeding and driving history for which he was lightly reprimanded or not at all.

She also said that Nick was riding a scooter around in the hallway while John was in the Intensive Care Unit, showing a disregard for the Graziano family that felt like a slap in the face.  She asked for at least 6 months in jail followed by a drug and alcohol treatment program.

John Graziano's mother came forward and read her own statement.

"Since the crash I have not seen one tear or heard one apology," Mrs. Graziano said.  "Within weeks Nick was bragging about sponsors," she continued, and asking for fans for the 2008 racing season.  (Over half of his sponsors dropped him soon after that.)  She asked for jailtime, and afterwards five years probation during which he will not be allowed to drink (Nick was found to be under the influence when he crashed).

Mrs. Graziano also said that she was shocked to find out that Nick has already started community service in an attempt to get out of harsh punishment, and was equally shocked to find out that cameras were called to film the community service.  She does not want revenge, only justice, she said.

Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea read a lengthy statement saying he believes his son is being treated unfairly in the media and that he is only 17, and should be treated as a minor and not more harshly because he's a celebrity.

(We find it worth mentioning that the media has largely ignored this case - which is quite the opposite of being harsh - and that ConnieTalk is one of the few outlets that has covered it over the past year.)

UPDATE: Here is the sentencing.

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