The 17-year-old son of wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan was sentenced to eight months in county jail after he pleaded no contest to causing a crash that seriously injured his best friend. He was immediately led out of the court to begin his sentence as his famous family looked on.
The judge also ordered Bollea to serve five years of probation and surrender his driving privileges for three years.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, wore a black bandanna and testified on his son's behalf, as did his estranged wife Linda and daughter Brooke.
But leniency came from the family of John Graziano, who was critically hurt in the August crash. They asked a judge to impose a sentence of up to a year in jail, well short of the five years Nick Bollea could have spent in prison.
The Bolleas, who star in the VH1 reality show "Hogan Knows Best," left the courtroom glumly after the verdict and did not comment.
Nick Bollea was arrested in November and charged with felony reckless driving that caused a serious bodily injury. Authorities say he was street racing his father's 1998 Toyota Supra in August when he struck a curb, spun in traffic and slammed into a palm tree.
The impact critically injured Graziano, who now needs lifetime medical care to deal with his injuries. A former Marine who served in Iraq, Graziano was not wearing a seat belt and suffered a broken skull and other severe injuries.
Bollea was not seriously hurt. A test revealed he had alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.
Assistant State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser said a reconstruction determined Bollea was driving 69 miles per hour on a busy street. The accident came roughly two weeks after Bollea had been cited for driving 82 miles per hour in a construction zone and was one of numerous speeding tickets and warnings on the teen's driving record, Rosenwasser said.
Graziano's family has filed a civil suit against Terry and Linda Bollea, alleging they are liable for their son's actions. The suit is a key reason why Nick Bollea opted not to admit guilt during Friday's hearing.
Judge Philip Federico withheld adjudication in the case, which means Bollea will not be branded a felon. Federico said his sentence was meant to strike a balance between punishing the teenager and allowing him to rehabilitate.
Graziano's family said through an attorney they were satisfied with the verdict, but wished the judge would have found Bollea guilty.
"Speeding to Nick was a badge of honor," Graziano's mother, Debbie, said during the hearing. "I'm not seeking revenge, only justice."
Bollea apologized to the Grazianos, turning his back on the judge and addressing the family directly. Graziano's father looked down, his mother appeared to lock her jaw.
In their comments in court Friday, the Grazianos noted that their son was not there. He remains in a semiconscious state and requires around-the-clock medical care.
"To see a strong Marine reduced to the state of having his mother bathe him is almost too much to bear," said Graziano's sister, Kristin Carson.
Graziano, 23, befriended Bollea because of their mutual love of cars, according to testimony Friday.
Bollea's family, including his father, described Graziano as a fellow family member who celebrated birthdays, his deployment overseas and other important events at their house.
"Now we're dealing with a void that just can't be filled," Linda Bollea said.
Bollea looked chastened after prosecutors played the judge a video that showed Graziano interacting with his family before the crash, and footage taken this week of him in a hospital bed.
The fathers of both young men sat within a few feet of each other during the hearing, both dressed in black suits.
They did not speak while in the courtroom.
But both watched as Nick Bollea was sentenced and quickly ushered to deputies.
He cast a quick backward glance at his family, then his tie and belt were removed and he was led next door to jail.
