18-year-old convicted of manslaughter in 2010 now faces another probation violation

A judge may revoke the probation of Ramius Hardiman who got a break in 2010 after being involved in car accident that killed his friend,  but since that time the 18-year-old has violated his probation and now has a second violation after being charged last week in federal court.

Ramius Hardiman was convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2010, received a suspended sentence and probation for his involvement in the Nov. 8, 2010 car crash, which killed Jose Mendoza, 17, of Cedar Rapids. He then violated his probation last year and charged with assault causing bodily injury and fifth-degree criminal mischief. In that incident he shot Jerrold Hendren with a BB-gun, causing injury. and firing the gun at Hendren's vehicle. He pleaded guilty to those charges in October 2012.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott filed to revoke Hardiman's probation but his hearing set last Friday was continued because Scott found out he was going to be charged the day before on another charge, felon in possession of a firearm, in federal court. Scott plans to base his revocation motion on the assault conviction and the firearms charge.

Scott said he will ask for prison time at the revocation hearing set 10 a.m. Aug. 7.

According to information filed in U.S. District Court, Hardiman received the 9 mm pistol from Demetrius Hardiman, who is also charged, May 8. Both men were arrested recently by the Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of federal and state agencies which target gang, drug and violent criminal activity.

Hardiman was originally charged in 2010 with two counts of vehicular homicide but his charges were amended to two counts of involuntary manslaughter because there were problems with witnesses making inconsistent statements, Scott said after his sentencing in 2011.

According to the criminal complaint, Hardiman's alcohol concentration level was .06 when his blood specimen was taken at the hospital 2-1/2 hours after the crash. There were bottles of alcohol found in the car and at the crash scene, according to the complaint.

According to a police report, Mendoza was wearing his seat belt in the back seat of the car when the driver lost control and the car rolled and hit a utility pole in the 3300 block of Cottage Grove Avenue SE. Mendoza died later at a hospital.