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Kill Two Pedestrians, Go To Jail? Not In Florida

By Kurt Ernst
Kurt Ernst Kurt Ernst
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22 24,705 views Jun 6, 2011

Scales of Justice. Image: Clyde Robinson

Scales of Justice. Image: Clyde Robinson

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On February 13, 2010, millionaire Ryan LeVin was racing his Porsche 911 Turbo against a friend’s BMW in the Fort Lauderdale area when he lost control of the car. A nearby security camera caught his Porsche jumping the curb and striking two British tourists, killing both.

LeVin fled the scene of the accident, and when police finally caught up with the costume-jewelry-empire heir, he denied being behind the wheel of the Porsche at the time of the crash. LeVin alleged that he’d switched cars with a friend half an hour before the accident, but that alibi evaporated when police produced evidence that LeVin had been stopped in his Porsche for a loud exhaust just 12 minutes before the fatal crash. Ironically, LeVin was on probation at the time of the fatal accident, for striking a Chicago police officer with his car in 2006.


Things looked bleak for LeVin, who faced up to 45 years in prison. Instead, LeVin received a sentence of two years house arrest and agreed to pay restitution (of an undisclosed amount) to the victim’s families.  His attorney argued that the need for LeVin to pay compensation to the families outweighed the need for prison time, and the sentencing judge agreed.

The restitution also settles a civil suit brought against LeVin by the victim’s families, but LeVin does face prison time in Illinois for parole violation. That assumes that Florida will allow extradition to Illinois, but something tells us that LeVin’s lawyer will find a way to fight that as well.

The most disturbing part? Although LeVin pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident, he never offered an apology to the victims’ families.

The bottom line is this: if you’re going to break the law, be prepared to suffer the consequences, unless you live in Florida and have lots of money. In that case, all it takes is a big enough check to set things to right.

[Chicago Breaking News, via BoingBoing]


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Comments (22)

  1. Devin Posted: 6/6/2011 1:24pm PDT

    Hey Kurt,
    Nice coverage. If you're interested in continuing to follow this ridiculous story Broward-Palm Beach New Times has been on top of it. Here's just one post about LeVin: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2011/06/ryan_levin_bogenschutz_prison.php
     
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  2. fb_709357878 avatar David Harkness Posted: 6/6/2011 2:37pm PDT

    Why couldn't the family receive compensation in the civil trial and still have LeVin sentenced to jail time in the criminal court? It's utterly ridiculous to receive house arrest for killing two people and fleeing the scene when we throw the book at people who take recreational drugs.
     
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  3. Kurt Posted: 6/6/2011 4:12pm PDT

    @David, that left me scratching my head as well. My best guess is that the defendant and his lawyer are politically hooked up in south Florida. In other words, rules simply don't apply to them.
     
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  4. Bill Posted: 6/6/2011 4:49pm PDT

    Ive got a better idea, he pays the families that money AND he goes to jail for the next 45 years of his life...
     
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  5. wonko Posted: 6/6/2011 7:37pm PDT

    People with money are above the law. Period.
     
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  6. wonko Posted: 6/6/2011 7:38pm PDT

    People with money are above the law. Period.
     
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  7. Unusual Suspect Posted: 6/6/2011 8:01pm PDT

    Here in 'Murka we live by the Golden Rule. He who has the Gold, makes the rules.
     
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  8. GARBARGE Posted: 6/6/2011 10:17pm PDT

    The US is trash and the Constitution is a joke. It is a matter of months before the US will cease to exist because the leaders are criminal garbage and should be in front of the military tribunal and tried for treason. TRASH AND GARBAGE
     
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  9. GARBAGE Posted: 6/6/2011 10:19pm PDT

    The US is trash and the Constitution is a joke. It is a matter of months before the US will cease to exist because the leaders are criminal garbage and should be in front of the military tribunal and tried for treason. TRASH AND GARBAGE
     
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  10. GARBAGE Posted: 6/7/2011 2:04am PDT

    TRASH AND GARBAGE
    PS I AM NOT A CRACKPOT
    Hyperbole much?
     
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  11. Al Posted: 6/7/2011 2:36am PDT

    Shades of Steven Milo, who was severely injured in a hit-and-run in Vail, CO, by Martin Joel Erzinger. The prosecutor refused to press charges against the (very wealthy) Erzinger because a "felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications"-- and that's a quote.
     
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  12. RANDOM_USER_NAME Posted: 6/7/2011 5:29am PDT

    Someone get Dexter on the phone.
     
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  13. CVframer Posted: 6/7/2011 5:53am PDT

    This troll should spend the rest of his life on his knees in a dark damp dungeon.
     
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  14. FU Posted: 6/7/2011 6:13am PDT

    SCUM!! where the f is dexter??!!?!?! this guy deserves to end up in a garbage bag!! hopefully he'll pay with more than cash in the afterlife!
     
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  15. Poka Posted: 6/7/2011 6:33am PDT

    LOL he is on house arrest in his mansion for two years...what a tough life.
    Florida's government is seriously horrible...I have yet to see any good judgment come out of that state.
     
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  16. GonnaGetcha Posted: 6/7/2011 6:36am PDT

    I volunteer to run this MF'er over with MY Porsche.
     
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  17. Arelem Posted: 6/7/2011 11:00am PDT

    Its nice to know that Illinois is going to do what Florida won't and put this joker in jail.
     
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  18. Kurt Posted: 6/7/2011 12:29pm PDT

    @Arelem, that assumes that Michigan and Florida can work out a deal on extradition, which I'm sure LeVin's lawyers will fight tooth and nail.
     
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  19. Alison Posted: 6/7/2011 12:46pm PDT

    This scumbag gets off easy while 18-year-old high school prankster Tyell Morton is facing 2-8 years for placing a blow-up doll in the girl's lavatory.
    FREE TYELL MORTON!
     
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  20. spluggle avatar Mark Spialter Posted: 6/7/2011 12:47pm PDT

    This dickweed is free to do this again in two years, or possibly sooner. How did this court serve the people?
     
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  21. Dennis the Vet Posted: 6/7/2011 11:53pm PDT

    Is this the America my Dad fought for in World War Two?
    Is this the America I fought for in Vietnam?
    Is this the America my son is fighting for in Afganistan? Shame on Florida. Shame on America.
    Not my Grandson he is going to a better country.
     
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  22. Dennis the Vet. Posted: 6/8/2011 12:22am PDT

    #21 not spam My dad was in the Navy, I was in the Army, and my son is a Marine in Afghanistan. I am taking care of his son while he is deployed.
     
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