No Felony Charges For Wealthy Hit & Run Driver

[Truth2Tell]

From: Vail Daily

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20101104/NEWS/101109939/1078&ParentProfile=1062

Alleged hit-and-run driver may not face felony
Victim, attorneys furious with misdemeanor deal
Randy Wyrick

EAGLE, Colorado — A financial manager for wealthy clients will not face felony charges for a hit-and-run because it could jeopardize his job, prosecutors said Thursday.

Martin Joel Erzinger, 52, faces two misdemeanor traffic charges stemming from a July 3 incident when he allegedly hit bicyclist Dr. Steven Milo from behind then sped away, according to court documents.

-snip

Erzinger, an Arrowhead homeowner, is a director in private wealth management at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Denver. His biography on Worth.com states that Erzinger is “dedicated to ultra high net worth individuals, their families and foundations...”

Milo suffered spinal cord injuries, bleeding from his brain and damage to his knee and scapula, according to court documents. Over the past six weeks he has suffered “disabling” spinal headaches and faces multiple surgeries for a herniated disc and plastic surgery to fix the scars he suffered in the accident.

“He will have lifetime pain,” Haddon wrote. “His ability to deal with the physical challenges of his profession — liver transplant surgery — has been seriously jeopardized.”

-snip

“Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger's profession, and that entered into it,” Hurlbert said. “When you're talking about restitution, you don't want to take away his ability to pay.”

“We have talked with Mr. Haddon and we had their objections, but ultimately it's our call,” Hurlbert said.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20101104/NEWS/101109939/1078&ParentProfile=1062">Whole thing here...

[LostInAnomie]

1. I was just about to post this.

It's disgusting how money has corrupted the system.

[Truth2Tell]

2. Even beyond the money itself...

it's the widespread worship of those who have it. We gotta get over that.

[Skidmore]

3. Some one needs to be recalled or impeached.

[47of74]

18. Then sent to prison for a very long time

[Aviation Pro]

4. Of course this incarcerating this fuckbag.....

....would also affect the wealth of his high end asshat clients all of whom are walking wads of fuck.

[whistler162]

5. Maybe instead of felony charges the perp pays his victim

95% of his current network and 30%, before taxes, of any future earnings.

Wonder which the perp would take trial or paying.

[glinda]

6. o 4 christ sake K & R this bastard to the front. Let everyone see him.

[CurtEastPoint]

7. Remember the recent story about speeding and the cost of the fine relative to your income?

I think it was Sweden or Germany? Some rich guy was fined in the hundreds of thousands.

They can pay. They should. Fuckers.

[Obamanaut]

8. More discussion at this earlier thread ->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9500550&mesg_id=9500550

[MrScorpio]

9. No surprise there

A government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich doesn't seem to be perishing from the Earth this week.

[xor]

10. Don't felonies usually jeopardize anyones job? That doesn't really make him special...

The victim even said forget about the money, send the bastard to jail... I'm confused about the wording though. The article says 'may not' but the first line says 'will not'.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. Yeah, screw the victim.

As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Ertzinger should stand for the felony and take his lumps.

[xor]

16. Not sure what 'take his lumps' mean, but I totally agree his lumps should be taken...

Really though, I cannot stand people like guy. He's totally one of those assholes who locking up would make the world a nicer place to live.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. "Taking his lumps" means living with the consequences of his conviction

Stuff like losing his clients, paying a fine, whatever is appropriate. That's of course only an issue if he's convicted. I doubt that he'd get jail time in a big house. That's not the usual penalty for hit and run without fatality.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. I think our law enforcement is tainted.

What this suggests is that a middle class person, with middle class worries and concerns would have been dealt with more severely.

Kind of makes you feel like we have a Communist Party elite in this country that is above the law.

[H2O Man]

12. I blame the victim

for inconveniencing this poor rich fellow.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. All men are equal before the law...except for...certain people.

[laylah]

14. I googled Erzinger...

found an address. Told him how reprehensible he, AND the Colorado prosecutors are. I lived there for 29 yrs, fought folks like them, tooth and nail. Reprehensible!

Jenn

[proud patriot]

17. It's amazing how much this pisses me off

:mad:

[Canuckistanian]

19. So, a Financial Manager's well-being trumps a Surgeon's?

Welcome to the new America. Enjoy your stay.

[Odin2005]

20. The Rule of Law is dead. We may have to resort to Vigilante Justice to stop these fuckers!

[unblock]

22. "When you're talking about restitution, you don't want to take away his ability to pay"

i.e., justice is all about fines for rich people and prison for poor people.