Highland man pleads in crash case
Post-Tribune staff report July 17, 2012 3:44PM
Updated: July 17, 2012 3:44PM
A Highland man originally charged with attempted murder pleaded guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for a sentence served on probation and payment of $90,000 in restitution to the victims.
Brandon Michael Tomassoni, 28, admitted he left the scene of an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury on May 20, 2009 in Highland. James and Dana Gray were riding their mo-peds with a third rider near Kleinman Road and Alti Court when they were struck by Tomassoni, who was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.
Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell accepted the plea agreement, which spelled out a 30-month sentence to be served on probation and $60,000 in restitution at the time of his sentencing. Tomassoni is to make $1,000 a month payments to the couple during his probation.
If he complies with the terms of his probation, Tomassoni’s felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor.
Defense attorney William Padula said issues surfaced during the discovery process and that the case had been “overcharged.”
Deputy prosecutor Reginald Marcus said the plea agreement was the subject of lengthy negotiations and represented a fair resolution for all the parties.
