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Judge Orders Pre-Sentence Investigation In Bollea Crash Case

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

Updated: 02/19/2008 04:09 pm

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

Nick Bollea

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. It also can be used 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.

The inquiry will look at, among other things, Bollea's family life. His father and mother, Linda Bollea, are in the middle of a bitter divorce.

Pre-sentence investigations are especially on point for defendants, such as Bollea, who are juveniles and have no criminal record, Hayslett said outside the courtroom after a brief hearing.

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. He is not driving and is working toward some type of community service, which will be announced, Hayslett said.

"I think he wants to make a positive impact out of a negative incident," Hayslett said.

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. "He's getting better every day but he is still in very serious critical condition," said his attorney, George Tragos.

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

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