Executive Summary
- Anthony Jovanovic sentenced to 3 years in prison and 5 years extended supervision.
- Crash involved 5 vehicles and caused severe injuries, including a torn carotid artery.
- Judge cited the decision to flee the scene as the primary aggravating factor.
- Defendant pleaded guilty to five felony counts, dismissing lesser misdemeanor charges.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Anthony Jovanovic, 42, was sentenced to three years in prison on February 10 following his conviction for a hit-and-run incident involving five vehicles that resulted in serious injuries to multiple victims in December 2024.
According to court records from Brown County Circuit Court, Judge Samantha Wagner handed down the sentence, which follows a joint recommendation from the prosecution and defense. In addition to the prison term, Jovanovic will serve five years of extended supervision. He pleaded guilty on December 5 to five felony counts, including charges of hit-and-run involving great bodily harm and hit-and-run involving injury. Misdemeanor charges of resisting an officer and bail jumping were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
The criminal complaint states that Green Bay police responded to the 1700 block of Main Street on December 28, 2024, finding a chaotic scene with five damaged vehicles spread over two blocks. Investigators identified Jovanovic as the driver of a dark-colored SUV that was damaged and abandoned at the location. Victims suffered significant trauma, with medical reports listing injuries such as a broken vertebra, a torn carotid artery, broken ribs, and facial fractures. A 4-year-old child was also transported to a Milwaukee hospital for examination regarding potential liver injuries.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Wagner highlighted the defendant’s decision to flee as a critical aggravating factor. “If there is an accident, people in this community deserve to know that the person who caused it or others around them will step in to make sure they’re OK,” Wagner stated. While acknowledging that the crash itself may not have been intentional, she characterized the decision to leave as a deliberate act of self-preservation at the expense of the victims.
Defense attorney Andrew Mongin argued that Jovanovic showed a “moral acceptance of responsibility” by pleading guilty to the charges rather than entering a no-contest plea. Jovanovic expressed remorse in court, apologizing to the victims and stating he never intended to cause harm. The court also ordered Jovanovic to pay $800 in restitution and damages.
Legal Implications
This sentencing outcome underscores the significant judicial weight placed on post-accident conduct. While the collision itself carried severe liability, the court’s focus on the defendant’s flight illustrates how leaving the scene elevates a traffic incident to a major felony with substantial custodial time. The adherence to the joint sentencing recommendation indicates that the court recognized the utility of the plea agreement in resolving the case without a trial, balancing the defendant’s acceptance of guilt against the public safety necessity of penalizing hit-and-run offenses.
