Sarasota man gets 15 years in crash that killed Dunedin woman
By Keith Niebuhr, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Nick Nolletti and wife Rosemary Nolletti break down during the sentencing of James Fancher for the 2007 vehicular homicide death of their daughter Jennifer Nolletti.
At the sentencing of James Fancher, the 26-year-old Sarasota man responsible for causing a car crash nearly two years ago that killed Nolletti's daughter, Jennifer, he would tell the court about the grief he has suffered and his love for his child.
But when the time came to speak, Nolletti couldn't.
"I'm sorry," he told the court while weeping.
Nolletti's sorrow was shared by many Friday.
So was his belief that Fancher, found guilty in April of vehicular homicide, should pay a severe penalty for his actions.
After hearing statements from Jennifer Nolletti's family and friends, Fancher's family and Fancher himself Friday at the Pinellas Criminal Justice Center, Judge Philip Federico handed down a 15-year prison sentence, the maximum allowed.
"It's the best outcome we could have possibly asked for," said Joe Sanders, Jennifer's fiance.
A popular 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Dunedin, Jennifer Nolletti died in October 2007 at the intersection of McMullen-Booth Road and Ruth Eckerd Hall Drive.
When the accident occurred, Nick Nolletti was driving a Toyota sport utility vehicle with his wife, Rosemary, in the passenger seat. Jennifer Nolletti was in the back seat.
Their car was struck by a Nissan convertible driven by Fancher, 26, of Sarasota,
Jennifer Nolletti was thrown from the vehicle and later pronounced dead at the scene. During the trial, Clearwater police Officer David Nugent, a certified crash reconstructionist, said Fancher's car was traveling between 75 and 77 mph in the 45 mph zone.
Fancher wiped tears throughout the sentencing and sobbed when his mother spoke to the court and asked for leniency. When it was his turn to talk, Fancher expressed remorse.
"I think about it every day and night," Fancher said. "I know I'm in no position to ask for forgiveness."
But, he added, "What happened was an accident."
Fancher, who already has served 486 days, asked the court to not give him any more time behind bars. Federico, though, was unmoved, particularly because he said Fancher had a spotty driving record even before the crash.
"This was a predictable result given the course of conduct," Federico said.
With the trial and sentencing behind them, Nolletti family members said they will try their best to move on. But it won't be easy, they said.
"It," Rosemary Nolletti said, "is never going to be over."
Keith Niebuhr can be reached at kniebuhr@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4156.
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