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A Times Editorial
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2000
Public sentiment toward Circuit Judge Craig Villanti's sentence of Steven Moschella has focused on the length, or lack thereof, of the jail time the teenager must serve for shooting and killing 16-year-old Teddy Niziol.
Moschella will spend a total of 60 days in the county jail, to be served on holiday weekends, spend two years on community control, four years on probation, finish his high school education and make restitution.
The terms surprised even Moschella, who could have been sentenced to six years in prison as a youthful offender after pleading guilty to a felony charge of manslaughter by culpable negligence. The judge withheld adjudication, noting the teenager did not have a significant juvenile record.
Regardless of whether you believe the sentence was fair or lenient, compassionate or unjust, it provides an opportunity for something constructive to emerge from Niziol's death.
Moschella, as part of the sentence, must talk to students at each of the county's nine high schools about his reckless handling of a loaded firearm 10 months ago as he sat in the back seat of Niziol's vehicle leaving the Ridgewood High School parking lot.
He can tell teenagers about how he took the stolen .22-caliber handgun from Niziol, pointed it at Niziol's younger sister, Nicolette, stupidly ignored her plea to put it away, and then pulled the trigger as the gun pointed forward. The bullet went through the driver's seat and struck and killed Niziol.
Moschella can recall how he felt as he watched his friend open the door to the Toyota 4-Runner and fall to the ground. And he can tell students about being the object of scorn; about how his friend's family was merciful in agreeing to his status as a youthful offender, yet vengeful in asking that he be sent to state prison.
He can highlight his own ignorance and immaturity and the tragic consequences. He should be more than willing to share his story. Moschella's family told Villanti that talking to students was what he wanted to do.
It is up to Moschella to carry through with a strong message to other teenagers so that Teddy Niziol's death is not in vain. Students who want to remember Niziol in a positive light can do so simply -- they can be an attentive audience.
Failing to listen to this story only amplifies the tragedy.