Wealthy fund manager avoids felony charges after running over cyclist because of… wealth

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Wealthy fund manager avoids felony charges after running over cyclist because of… wealth

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/wealthy-fund-manager-avoids-felony-charges-running-cyclist/

By David Edwards
Monday, November 8th, 2010 -- 12:15 pm



A fund manager for Smith Barney is getting off without felony charges after he allegedly ran over a cyclist with his Mercedes and fled the scene in Eagle, Colorado, because, the DA says, felony charges would be bad for the fund manager's business.

Martin Joel Erzinger will not be charged with a felony because "Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger's profession," according to District Attorney Mark Hurlbert.

Erzinger oversees over $1 billion in assets for "ultra high net worth individuals, their families and foundations," according to Worth.

Erzinger fled the scene July 3 after allegedly striking Dr. Steven Milo with his 2010 Mercedes Benz sedan on Highway 6, according to court documents. Erzinger later called the Mercedes auto assistance service to ask for his vehicle to be towed but did not report the accident to law enforcement. He claims he was unaware the cyclist had been hit.

[Larkspur]

1. Class Warfare on steroids!

The wealthy write the laws via their lobbyists. Probably was some small print in some bill that let this a-hole off.

[HillbillyBob]

2. and if i go over the speed limit i get hauled in

nt

[provis99]

3. Hurlbert should be impeached and thrown in prison.

He can serve the time that Erzinger should have gotten, 10-15 years.

[phantom power]

4. The only remarkable thing here is how honest they were about it.

That actually worries me a little. Like they know they don't even have to pretend it's justice anymore.

[progressoid]

5. Fuck

This shit is really starting to piss me off.

[vi5]

6. And of course this is nowhere in the MSM...

Can you imagine how many hours of cable news this would take up if this guy was an illegal alien or a welfare recipient?

[sorcrow]

7. You know it's bad when...

You know it's bad when someone can run over a doctor and scoff at the law.
Crow

[flakey_foont]

8. just unbelievable

this makes me sick

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Is there a legal device where you could force a public official to do his/her job,

such as convene a grand jury for this criminal allegation?

[taterguy]

10. Not in my jurisdiction

[no_hypocrisy]

16. Got it! Sue under a Write of Mandamus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandamus

[taterguy]

19. Link you posted says the duty must not be discretionary

In my jurisdiction, DAs have nearly absolute discretion to decide what, if any, charges to file in any situation.

[reggie the dog]

11. this is great, no more felonies for working people

anyone with a profession would qualify for this "Felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger's profession," according to District Attorney Mark Hurlbert." no matter what your job felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications. I have a job as a teacher and my brother is a mechanic, felonies would be serious for our jobs as we wouldnt be able to get to them.... so we can do felony drug dealing and only get charged with a misdemenor if we move to Eagle Colorado as the DA is really nice to felons who have a job....

[NC_Nurse]

15. Oh fer fucks sake! How about the serious implications of running people over?

Amazing.

[taterguy]

21. Almost as amazing as your inability to detect sarcasm

[reggie the dog]

27. my comment was total sarcasm

[Fuzz]

12. Jesus H. Christ

[valerief]

13. This would only surprise someone with their head up their ass.

A bagger, for example.

[NC_Nurse]

14. I'm sorry, but WTF???

So now rich fucks are above the law, not just fraud law but traffic law too!?!?

What has become of this country?

[blindpig]

17. Capitalist priorities and sensibilities on display. n/t

[lpbk2713]

18. The average Joe/Jane would have their license suspended for DUI.

And if driving was a part of their employment they would lose their job. Would the courts have
sympathy? Hell no. It happens all the time. This is just blatant class cronyism, pure and simple.

[Obamanaut]

20. Much discussion in these earlier threads ->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9512807

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9513200

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9513588

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9512910

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

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9508909

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9501636

[Crunchy Frog]

22. DA Mark Hurlbert should win KO's Worst Person in the World award.

[Enthusiast]

23. This comes as no surprise to me. nt

[era veteran]

24. Sometimes I really hate the rich, a tilted playing field

indeed. Felony convictions have serious job 'implications' in all jobs. I wonder how they transfered the money? Not much honor left in this world.

[jaksavage]

25. This really pisses me off. nt

[Ignis]

26. One law for the rich; one for the rest of us.

:puke: