Academic

Released from jail at night, homeless man killed by hit-and-run driver

Dominic Amodeo was killed less than an hour after he was released from jail.

A vehicle theft charge against Amodeo was set to be dropped upon the completion of a pre-trial intervention.

"This was his first brush with the law of any significance," said Norma Wendt, his public defender. "And all I can say is, wow."

Less than an hour after he got out of jail, a homeless man was killed when he was hit by a car.

Dominic Amodeo, 22, was released from the St. Johns County Jail at 9:10 p.m. and apparently had no choice but to walk toward town along the side of a dark road where there are no sidewalks.

A judge had ordered his released nine hours earlier. Jail officials said the nine-hour wait wasn't unusual.

Charges are pending against woman who was delivering pizza.

Inmates released from state prison are given a bus ticket and $100. People released from county jails get nothing.

Read the St. Augustine Record reports here, here and here.

Something very much like this -- a late-night release from jail and a deadly car crash -- happened in Orlando last year.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on September 10, 2010 (boomark / email).