Judge Dismayed as Hit-and-Run Defendant Rejects 1-Year Deal to Risk Up to 15 in Prison

Judge Dismayed as Hit-and-Run Defendant Rejects 1-Year Deal to Risk Up to 15 in Prison

Joao Fernandes adamantly asked for a trial for his hit-and-run charge. He’d been willing to serve a single year on probation--an admission of guilt for his hit and run that left a 25-year-old motorcyclist a heap of broken bones--but nothing more. His attorney, Brian Penney, seemed as convinced as his client. Fernandes turned down an offer of serving one year in prison. Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols told them their idea of a settlement was “offensiv…