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Woman's Plea Earns Actor Who Hit Her And Ran A Harsher Sentence
A woman who was severely injured in a hit and run was able to convince the judge to give the man responsible a harsher punishment.
Voiceover artist and actress Camille Banham was riding her bike on August 6, 2013 when Spencer Lofranco, an actor who appeared in Unbroken, hit her with his SUV at Selma and Cahuenga in Hollywood, CBS LA reports. Bonham's injuries included a broken hip and a number of fractures. Investigators said that Lofranco got out of his car and apologized to Banham for hitting her, but then got back in his car and left.
Banham had use to use a wheelchair to get around while she relearned how to walk. She's still in a lot of pain and continues to undergo surgeries related to her injuries, throwing a wrench in her own acting career.
Lofranco was sentenced today, and he was expected to receive a mere 10 days of community service. Banham, however, attended the hearing and made a statement.
"I used to call what happened to me an accident, and it would've been an accident if Spencer had stayed and helped me after he got out of his car and saw me injured on the side of the road, but instead he chose to leave me," she said.
The judge decided to tack on an extra 40 days of community service, plus two years of probation. Lofranco must also pay $161,000 in restitution.
Lofranco, whose lawyer argued that he left the scene because he was scared, did get his charge reduced to a misdemeanor. Banham said she hopes the actor pays his luck forward.
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