Billionaire polo mogul gets 16 years' prison in DUI death

[TexasTowelie]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A South Florida polo mogul has again been sentenced to 16 years in prison following his second trial in a fatal drunken-driving crash.

A Palm Beach County judge imposed the sentence Friday on 51-year-old John Goodman, who was convicted in a retrial last month of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. A jury from Tampa was brought in because of pretrial publicity.

Evidence showed that Goodman was driving drunk when he ran a stop sign in February 2010 and rammed his black Bentley into 23-year-old Scott Patrick Wilson's car. Wilson died after his car car rolled into a canal.

Authorities said Goodman left the scene and waited nearly an hour to call 911.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Polo-mogul-gets-16-years-prison-in-DUI-death-5909424.php

[BlueJazz]

1. That's unusual. Somebody who is rich gets 16 years for vehicular homicide ??

Frankly, I'm surprised.

[malaise]

2. That kid could have lived but Mr Rich left him to die in that

canal - may he rot in prison.

[Raul Hernandez]

3. I hope the kid's family have taken over Mr. Rich's assets

and left Mr. Rich with a new name: Mr. Bum

[BlueJazz]

5. Wow..didn't know that. Thanks. (should have read the whole story)

(After thinking for a minute) You know, I'm still a little surprised. Seems like, most of the time, we hear of these types of crime and find out the person got 2-5 years and then some parole.

There was a case in Tampa about 2-3 years ago where a women ran down 2 people and left the scene of the accident. (her father even washed off the blood on the car)
She walked away with probation.
That's why I'm so cynical.

[malaise]

7. There was outrage after the first trial

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-john-goodman-sentence-announced-20141121-story.html#page=1
<snip>
John Goodman's attorneys will fight to get him home for Thanksgiving, even if the Wellington polo club founder once again has a 16-year prison sentence blocking his way.

Palm Beach County Chief Circuit Judge Jeffrey Colbath on Friday refused to let Goodman post a multimillion- dollar cash bond while appealing his latest conviction for DUI manslaughter and failure to render aid in the death of Scott Patrick Wilson, 23, on Feb. 12, 2010.

The defense, which had asked for a $4 million bond, vowed to quickly file an emergency challenge in the 4th District Court of Appeal to spring Goodman, 51, who was found guilty by a jury in a retrial last month.
John Goodman's defense team reacts to sentencing Defense lawyers Elizabeth Parker and Margaret Good-Earnest share their perspective outside the courtroom

The judge said he heard nothing new in Round 2, so he imposed the same prison term as he had in May 2012, after Goodman was convicted the first time and before the discovery of juror misconduct forced the do-over.

[Go Vols]

4. I really didn't expect this to be in the US

when I clicked on it. Rich people going to jail? wtf

[Warpy]

6. Same here.

He will appeal, of course, and probably be out during his appeal which will last until he dies of extreme old age.

I hope the kid's parents sue him into a cardboard box under a bridge, but that will be dragged out until they're dead and buried, too.

It's getting to the point that the justice system is such a laughing stock that people are going to start taking a more direct approach against rich scum and that is really sad.

[nomorenomore08]

8. That's how you know this was a *really* egregious case. Evidently, the young man was left to drown.

[monmouth4]

9. Had Goodman made even a feeble attempt to saving this young man, anything, jump in

the water, called 911, it may have been a lot different. He deserves every damn day he's in jail. Money can't buy it all. Now he says he's broke....