Nick Bollea — the son of Hulk Hogan — was today sentenced to eight months in Florida’s Pinellas County Jail for felony reckless driving after pleading no contest in court.
In addition to the jail time, which begins immediately, Bollea, 17, was sentenced to 5 years probation, during which he will serve 500 hours of community service, not be allowed to drink any alcohol and have his driver’s license revoked for 3 years.
Bollea was sporting a light colored suit at Pinellas County Court and stared straight ahead as the sentence was read.
Hulk Hogan — real name Terry Bollea — stood and watched as uniformed authorities removed his son from the courtroom. Nick did not have a chance to say goodbye to his family before he was taken into custody.
Nick was arrested last November on reckless-driving charges stemming from an August 26 crash. An eyewitness told police that Bollea and a pal were drag racing upwards of 100 mph when Nick’s yellow Toyota Supra slammed into a palm tree. Two hours after the crash, alcohol was detected in his bloodstream.
John Graziano, who was in Bollea’s passenger seat and not wearing a seat belt, was seriously injured. A report filed in court in September said he will likely spend the rest of his life in a nursing home.
“My life now consists of 10 hours each day at a hospital watching my son suffer,” John’s father said in a statement during today’s court proceedings. “Nick has shown no remorse for what he’s done for my son.”
Added John’s sister: “We have never once heard him apologize for what he’s done or take any responsibility for any of his actions.”
Hulk told the court he loved John “like a son,” and Nick told the Graziano family that he “loved John to death” and hadn’t driven since the night of the crash.
“I think there has to be some punishment,” the judge said, disagreeing with the defense claiming the crash was an accident. “But I believe there is a sincere desire, a sincere apology, to change things…[but] there are consequences for what you do in these circumstances.”
Nick will next appear in court November 11 to address restitution to the family.
Leaving the courthouse, Bollea’s family did not address reporters. His attorneys did say that Bollea was “happy” with the sentence, and happy that the case was finished.
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