Driver who plowed into Mardi Gras crowd to be released early

Driver who plowed into Mardi Gras crowd to be released early | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - This undated photo provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office shows Neilson Rizzuto, who was sentenced in January 2018, for drunkenly plowing his truck into a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade crowd is to be released later this month, despite a five-year sentence. Rizzuto benefits from a 2017 Louisiana prison reform law that allows release of well-behaved inmates who have served 35 percent of their sentences for nonviolent crimes, authorities said. (Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office via AP)

NEW ORLEANS – A man sentenced in January for drunkenly plowing his truck into a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade crowd is to be released later this month, despite a five-year sentence.

Authorities say Neilson Rizzuto benefits from a 2017 Louisiana prison reform law that allows the release of well-behaved inmates who have served 35 per cent of their sentences for nonviolent crimes.

Rizzuto was sentenced to five years with one year suspended for the crash that injured 32 people last year. He also was given credit for nearly 11 months already served.

New Orleans District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office, citing information from state corrections officials, says Rizzuto’s expected release date is July 20.

Cannizzaro and some victims of the 2017 crash have been critical of what they deemed a lenient sentence.

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