Judge Nixes Bollea's Bid To End His Isolation At Jail

AP photo

Nick Bollea's attorneys wanted Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Philip Federico to move Bollea to a minimum security pod where he could interact with inmates or let him go home with an ankle bracelet until he turns 18 in July.

By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

CLEARWATER - Without elaborating, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Philip Federico denied a request today to take Nick Bollea out of a cell in which he is separated from adult inmates at the Pinellas County Jail.

Bollea, the 17-year-old son of famed wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was sentenced to eight months in jail after he pleaded no contest in May in a wreck that left his sole passenger, Iraq war veteran John Graziano, with brain damage.

Bollea's attorneys argued that his isolation amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. They wanted Federico to move the teenager to a minimum security pod where he could interact with inmates or let him go home with an ankle bracelet until he turns 18 in July. At that point, he could be with other inmates.