Posted by Court Reporter on July 20, 2009 at 20:24:45:
Friend of Randy Salerno gets probation
July 20, 2009 2:00 PM
A Wisconsin judge on Monday sentenced a friend of WBBM-Ch. 2 anchor Randy Salerno to three years probation and 100 hours of community service for the snowmobile crash last year that took the popular newsman's life, according to a defense lawyer.
Scott Hirschey, 45, of Crystal Lake, who was driving the snowmobile when it crashed on Jan. 24, 2008, had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. But he reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in May, and was sentenced Monday in Vilas County, Wis., Circuit Court.
"He told the judge that he wished he could trade places with Randy," said defense attorney John Hyland, of Madison, Wis. "He thanked Randy's family for their support."
Salerno's family did not attend the sentencing, according to Hyland, who added that Hirschey accepted responsibility for the newsman's death.
The two had been on a snowmobile together during a winter getaway in northern Wisconsin last year when authorities say Hirschey, who was driving, had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the state's legal threshold of 0.08 percent. The rented, one-person machine crashed into an embankment, flew 46 feet through the air, and smashed into a pine tree.
Hirschey suffered broken ribs and a lacerated liver in the crash. Salerno was killed.
Vilas County District Atty. Albert Moustakis could not immediately be reached for comment. Hyland said prosecutors did not seek jail time for Hirschey.
Hirschey, who had grown up with Salerno in Crystal Lake, could have been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison with a $100,000 fine.
-- Jeff Long @ Chicago Breaking News