Victim of hit-and-run asks judge to show leniency

An 18-year-old Gaffney woman facing at least a month in jail received sympathy from a judge and the victim of her crime Monday, resulting in her being sent home from the Cherokee County Courthouse with no further penalty.

Nancy Razo was 17 years old last February when she struck a pedestrian with her car near Highway 11 and Northgate Road. Rather than stay and render aid, however, she drove home, where police found her a short time later.

Razo pleaded guilty Monday in Cherokee County General Sessions Court to the offense of leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily injury, an offense which carries the possibility of lengthy jail time if the court deems the circumstances warrant it.

In this case, though, visiting Circuit Court Judge Markley Dennis decided the one day Razo had spent in jail following her Feb. 8 arrest was enough.

The victim, Christopher Johnson, spoke up for Razo during the hearing, telling the judge he knew Razo well from school and considered her a good friend.

Despite his pain and injuries, Johnson told the judge he held no grudge and said he felt that God had taken care of him.

Razo's defense attorney, Trent Pruett, told the court the young woman had just gotten off work the day of the accident and was going home when she went around a car in the roadway and struck Johnson. He said she panicked and left the scene.

"I just attribute her reaction to inexperience (behind the wheel) and being young," he said.

Johnson sustained two fractures below his knees and was flown by helicopter from the accident scene to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, prosecutors said. Although a civil settlement between Johnson and Razo's insurance carrier already has been reached, prosecutors were asking for Razo to be held responsible for additional restitution because Johnson needs additional surgery.

Judge Dennis declined to impose additional restitution demands on Razo, however.

The charge that Razo faced was designed by state lawmakers to have similar penalties as felony driving under the influence. No alcohol was involved in this case but the judge warned Razo before sending her on her way, "If there had been any indications you had been under the influence, that changes everything."