EXCLUSIVE: Polo boss John Goodman shuns Welly, lands in luxury beachside retreat
Tags: Bentley, Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, International Polo Club Palm Beach, John Goodman, Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, PBSO, Players Club, Roy Black, Scott Wilson
| Thursday 4 March 2010 9:54 am
John Goodman, the embattled polo boss under criminal investigation for his role in a fatal crash in rural Wellington last month, has been shunning friends and business associates since he crashed his Bentley into 23-year-old Scott Wilson’s vehicle Feb. 12, killing him.
But that doesn’t mean that the multi-millionaire Texas trust-funder Goodman has been roughing it.
Far from it.
The Canyon Ranch Miami Beach (Click on the photo for more on John Goodman)
Page2Live tracked down the 46-year-old founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in a boutique hotel in Miami Beach that specializes in relaxation, health and wellness. The joint boasts a “serene atmosphere of casual elegance,” health experts on-call and countless ways to “reawaken your spirit and refresh your soul.”
For more, look below or click
Goodman with actress Hillary Duff (Click on the photo for more)
Goodman wouldn’t pick up the phone in his $1,000-a-night room at the Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, on Collins Avenue. But a source close to Goodman told me Goodman has been paranoid about running into someone he knows, or reporters.
“He basically changes hotels every few days,” the source told me. “He has been in quite a few upscale resorts in Miami Beach and Miami over the past three weeks. He’s not a happy camper, but he’s living it up.”
I hear Goodman, who hasn’t been charged with any wrongdoing, spends most of his days preparing for his defense at the offices in Miami of his criminal lawyer, Roy Black. Goodman is also undergoing therapy for the broken wrist he suffered in the 1 a.m. car crash.
Smartly, he uses a car service to get around.
Authorities, meanwhile, are continuing their probe of what happened the night Goodman allegedly went through a stop sign and crashed into Wilson’s Hyundai. The Hyundai landed upside down in a canal.
Goodman had just attended an equestrian party then Ladies’ Night at the Players Club, a popular Wellington watering-hole. Page2Live previously revealed that Goodman ordered 16 shots of tequila, one of Grey Goose vodka and another of Johnnie Walker Red before hitting the road.
Arrest him!!
WTF, never arrested or charged with anything. Obviously if your rich and well known the laws don’t apply to you. Thank you Palm Beach County for showing us how corrupt this county is. What would happen if this was Joe the Plumber…what ever happened to that guy…
16 shots of tequila? what a LOSER, he should try to do something worth while with his life and money. My husband is getting deployed over seas for a year and is the exact same age as this Goodman Loser. My husband doesn’t drink or do drugs and the military is his PART TIME JOB. outside of another job in law enforcement that is full time.
Goodman, big loser, to much time on his hands and NO responsibilities.
I hope sanity and common sense prevails, and he gets life in prison.
What he has done for Polo is NOTHING for what my husband has done keeping out Country safe and providing the FREEDOM that Goodman so obviously has enjoyed to excess.
They discovered Joe the Plumber wasn’t paying taxes and wasn’t a licensed plumber nor did he serve as an apprentice which made his practice illegal. I think he was arrested…
Presumably the investigatin is ongoing and they are awaiting tox results on Goodman. If he isn’t charged then the system will desperately fail the young man who was killed.
Christina,
I have NEVER responded to a comment. But for you, I must.
WHAT, exactly, does this have to do with you husband being deployed??? I am confused.
Whether or not this man is innocent or guilty has absoluately NOTHING to do with your mman being deployed.
This is odd?
Jose, why isn’t this idiot in jail?
Jose is a scum bag!!!!
Goodman committed murder and is running scared. Drunk or not he was speeding and ran a red light(as indicated in news reports). He killed the young man out of neglegence or drunk driving he should be charged and convicted just like any other citizen. This is a travesty to our legal system and the young man that was killed.
Everyone I know gets their Breathalyzer on the spot or at least back at the station. The time they’re taking is the time they need to drag this out as long as possible. To the point where the pissed off public isn’t so pissed off and have moved on to another topic to be pissed about. The America public has historically very, very short memories and/or attention-spans.
Then, the legal system can fail us and this poor young man quietly and brush another plutocrat’s secrets under the rug. Nobody knows how to be crooked and corrupt like the politicians and cops in Palm Beach County.
Oh, yeah–a while ago when this story first broke someone was questioning why this young man was out so early in the morning. Suggesting he must of been up to no good because ‘nothing good happens that late or early in the morning.’ He was on his way down from school. Something held him up at school and he couldn’t get back any earlier–a job or previous responsibilities. He was a good kid. Regardless, you can be on the roads at any time. Just like a woman can wear provocative clothing without wanting to be raped. The kid wasn’t doing anything wrong. On the other hand, everyone knows this guy is as dirty as they come.
this is an open and shut case of d.u.i./vehicular manslaughter and should carry a 15 year prison sentence - end of the story. i should know, i went to prison for a b.u.i./bodily injury crime - i was guilty and paid the price. so should this guy.
-what a shame, hopefully Palm Beach County will rise above this and provide justice for the obvious and not turn a blind eye, all said and done money cannot by class only people.
uh yeah, christina -
wtf does your husband getting deployed have to do with this? absolutely no connection - what goodman did is a crime and he should pay, but i’m betting your husband signed up for the reserves or whatever he is, and is getting paid. why do people who choose to become warriors always seem to whine when the are called to do their job of choice. last time i checked it was still and all volunteer army, honey.
Why was he not arrested? Clearly, he was under the influence while driving. Guess State Attorney McAuliffe, who himself was born a rich kid, lets other rich people get away with homocide?
by law you are allowed to refuse a breath test when pulled over from a cop or accident. This makes it harder for the state to charge you with DUI because there is no FACT saying that you were indeeed drunk.
If this is what the rich guy did, and the cops didnt forcibly remove blood from him in jail, to test, then what jury would convict him of a DUI? involved and causes a fatal accident - yes, but drunk while he did it? not if there is no factual proof.
Is this all about you, Cristina? Maybe while your husband is gone you can take a course in English grammar.
I believe he was given a blood test; double standards in this society are alive and well. Nobody hires Roy Black unless they are guilty.
BigJ
Looking at pics of the accident scene, it isn’t hard to figure out exactly what happened that night. It is an incredible injustice that this POS is walking the streets as a free man.
Slow down folks. I’m sure an arrest is eminent. The rich “murderer” probably had blood taken by MDs if he was taken to the hospital to treat that broken wrist which the article states he has. I figure alcohol, at the very least, if not cocaine, reading about his past, was involved and the truth will come out. His high powered(?) attorney Roy Black isn’t a sure fire not guilty either. Remember John and Pauline Zile? He represented Pauline and she’s doing life in prison.
My prediction is this pos member of the lucky sperm society member (trust fund kid) will not spend one day in jail.
As for Christina….your husband APPLIED to be a cop and VOLUNTEERED to join the reserves so get over yourself.
As a sister, whose brother was killed by a drunk driver 15yrs ago, we all want justice for those who take away someones life…in Goodman’s case we need to be patient…he should get his day coming…I think the key parts in the case are being worked out, you have to remember he left the scene of the crime…someone picked him up and drove him to the hospital, that is where who knows how long after the accident he was actually tested for alcohol/drugs. They are building a case the right way or at least I hope so, and hope that those involved who helped him leave get the same charges too.
What a sad deal for the family of the person killed. They deserve some justice and closure in a fairly clear cut case. If this were any other average citizen, they would be sitting in jail (arrested that night) and awaiting trial. I hope there are charges pending for this loser. Any investigating officer with half a brain would have told the hospital to take a blood sample. Unless, there is some crooked business going on…
Weedawg, I’m happy you don’t comment much you showed your less than desirable side. “Foolish”
He should be in jail until they decide to charge him. He is living it up for a defense?? Should be in jail until trial. He is Rich. And could fly or sail out of this country. Put His Assss In Jail.
cut your deal, man up and do the time.
I don’t understand why he hasn’t been charged with running the stop sign at the very least? I believe he is a flight risk!
What we need to be asking is “what the h*ll is our district attorney thinking and how do we get him out of office….” He’s supposed to be protecting us from criminals and putting them behind bars. This joker is taking a car service but what if he wasn’t? He could realistically get behind the wheel of a car and murder someone else’s kid. Sick.
It absolutely hurts to hear he is living it up while he KILLED a man. What a horrible person! I hope he goes to jail for a long time!
He says he’s drug addicted, gets sent to a Club Fed. Makes a deal like Rothstein, and Madeoffwithyourmoney to rat everyone out…then all these people make deals to rat more people out and before you know it…..
One fuckin horse gets sent to the glue factory and all the people are running free. That’s Palm Beach County politics, police and corruption. Read it and weep.
What is taking so long?????? It can’t possibly take this long for test results!!!!
Scott Wilson seems to have been a smart, well-put-together young man. I think his comment would be: Let’s all calm down. Make sure we monitor the justice process and make ceratin that Goodman gets a fair trial.
I was told that, allegedly, if you are in deep doo doo you could hire someone like Roy Black and get away with anything.
This is Good for Attys like Roy.
They throw big parties at Miami Beach Hotels for their clients and sparkly friends.
I was told that guys like Roy get really inappropriate pics of Judges doing naughty things…and then use this to bribe them for acquitals for his clients.
But this does not happen in our legal system.
No…..no way.
Thank you Jose for doing good work. You and Pulp are the Sh_t.
weedawg and christinafannot: you don’t get it…and prob never will. She’s upset that her husband is going to be gone a year doing the job that POS Goodman should be doing also. Her husband has done all the right things and here Goodman can live recklessly and cause some promising young man’s death. It’s hard to see someone try to use their wealth and power to get out of owning up to their sins.
I hope you gain some compassion for others. Do you do anything worthwhile for others?
I believe Christina was trying to make a comparison between 2 men….one decent, one not!! Simple as that. The “not” decent one is enjoying himself in high priced hotels in Miami after killing a young man. The decent one will be protecting our country. Seems pretty clear to me.
JBN
First reports that were released the morning of the accident stated the driver of the Bentley attempted to leave the scene of the accident, and the vehicle was found about a 1 mile down the road. Why isn’t any of this mentioned ANYMORE? it makes me sick this guy is living it up, and planning his defense? I hope he doesn’t walk off with no charges sporting that smug amile…..
Heading out for dinner and drinks, anyone feel like hanging out tonight?
bring this member of the lucky sperm club to justice.
Welcome to Wellington and Palm Beach Police Department!
They let someone come take my Vehicle fraudulently 6months after purchasing and holding car insurance,The Officer threatned to take me jail if I did not give him My Car Keys!
Being a newcomer to Florida of 2yrs. I was in “Total
Shock that this could happen and “How could it Happen”!Well had to pay for Attorney and fight with the State
in order to get my Vehicle!
So situations like this does not suprise me! Welcome to the State of Florida or Palm Beach Police Corruption!
This man should of been in jail that same night,
just because someone has more money than another
person does not make them any better than the next
individual who happens to not be well off! I can’t
stand people who think they are better than others,
We all are Human and all Bleed Red and lay down and
get up the same! So send his *** to jail!!
Palm Beach Post - keep at it! Don’t let this important story fade away. It is too bad that the rich receive special treatment in PB County. Goodman appears to be guilty as hell and is certainly a flight risk with all of his money. Why is he not in jail? My bet is that he left poor Scott to drown and fled the scene. If so, he should get life in prison starting today!
WHY isn’t this jerk in jail? If it had been anybody that was poor, they would be UNDER the jail.
ARREST HIM - he does not deserve to be living it up in Miami or anywhere else.
Correction on my comment: I am still fighting with the State of Tallahasse,Internal Affairs, to get my vehicle they fraudulently,’Stole From Me”!
People as tax paying citizens is this how we are treated by our State and Local Governments who are “Supposed” to be
Abiding By and Upholding the Laws they have put in
place! We have to start making these Gov’t Offices
accountable for their actions and stand up for our
Rights!
Weedawg, step away from the weed NOW and try doing something wonderful with your life like the men and women who serve in the Military do.
Most of you posters are morons.
First of all don’t blame the “Wellington Police Department.” Wellington does not HAVE a police department. Also, there is no evidence at this point that Goodman was drunk or high. You don’t know that this was not just a tragic accident that could have happened to any one of you. For all any of you know the young man who died could have been the one under the influence. Calm the hell down. Innocent until proven guilty, remember? This IS still America. I pray none of you fools ever get to sit on a jury.
FYI, the cops don’t get to force you to take a breathalizer test. You have the right to refuse, although your license will likely be suspended. Blood evidence was collected from Goodman at the hospital and while it does seem to be taking a while to learn the results, they will eventually arrive. If Goodman deserves to be arrested he will be. You don’t know the specifics of how or why this accident occurred. Stop pretending you do and stop calling for someone’s head.
Stop your ridiculous accusations that Goodman is getting away with something because he is rich. What do you idiots want? Should the guy have been lynched at the scene of the accident that night? I wonder if you idiots would all be so outraged if he were not a billionaire. I doubt you would even be following this case. How much of this self-righteous indignation is really just jealousy?
And while we are on the subject of jealousy, John Goodman is not a member of “the lucky sperm club.” His family owns a successful business which they work hard at - I thought working hard and getting rich from being successful at what you do is the American way. Is that a crime now, too?
I would also like to point out that hiring Roy Black does not mean you are guilty, necessarily. It just means you are rich. And hiring Roy Black does not mean you will be acquitted. His clients go to jail all the time.
But on a more serious note, I must add that as offensive as I find most of these posts, what I find even more offensive is the irresponsible story written by Jose Lambiet. Jose, why do you repeatedly mention in your reports on this story that Goodman bought 16 shots of tequila? You are trying to make it sound like he drank them all himself when YOU DAMN WELL KNOW he was ordering for a large group of people. Why must you engage in such misrepresentations? Don’t you find the actual facts of the story compelling enough? You are no journalist, Sir. You are nothing but a trash-mongering gossip column hack, and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Most of the posters here should be ashamed, too. Losers with no life, no education, and no idea what they are talking about.
At the very least, he is guilty of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, in this case a death. He should have been jailed immediately for that, and they would still have time to build a case on vehicular manslaughter. If it was any of us, I assure you that would be case.
Wanna hit up Prime 112 @ 9:30?
Live large now Goodman. You will soon be behind bars for a long time.
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.
Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.
And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.
Lois go to hell! I suppose you are one of “them” also - a privledged %^&^$ who thinks they are above the law because they have money. I hope another rich A-hole kills one of your family members and then goes to spend his days at a luxury resort! See how you would feel!
Come on people. The guy is in Miami because his hot shot lawyer is there. I agree with the person who wrote that no one hires Roy Black unless they are guilty. This guy is scared for his life - I dont think he is living it up at all knowing his days of champagne and steak may be limited. My guess is that he is working out a plea bargain. He knows with the public out cry about this case, any jury would find him guilty. I’ll bet the guy gets 5 years at Club Fed. Any other person would get 15. We’ll have to wait and see.
Been and ER Nurse for 23 years….it takes about 45 minutes to get results for a blood alcohol and tox screen…
You are absolutely correct Karen. The tox and blood resulty can be gotten speedily if necessary. As for Goodman, he should bunk with Rothstein. They can compare notes about big flashy expensive autos while sitting in the slammer! If the roles were reversed ng and the unfortunate you man who Goodman killed had blown through a stop sign aqnd killed Goodman it would have been aqn ENTIRELY different matter. He would have been locked up so fast he wouldn’t have known what hit him. Doesn’t seem fair, huh?
Lois F.,
Just so the facts are straight - while Bubba Goodman (John’s dad) worked very hard indeed, John did not and he exemplifies the consummate definition of a Playboy. John has inherited the entirety of his wealth. That does not make him a bad person. Being a drug addled father (per the court filings in his Houston divorce) that left the scene of a horrific accident resulting in the death of an upstanding young man (for which he has said he is sorry - thus admits he was behind wheel) is what makes him a bad person. John is indeed a member of the “lucky sperm club”. Being born on third base does not mean that you hit a triple. John has a wonderful mother, a caring and loving ex-wife, and other responsible relatives. All of these other relatives have been more responsible with their inherited wealth and lives. John was/is at the controls of his own train wreck of a life. What he does with the rest of it is up to him. People are outraged at the disparity of treatment that he is receiving. Nobody is mad that he is wealthy, people just like to feel that nobody is above the law and that justice is blind.
Jose, what is up with Stacy Shore? I heard she was seen in Bal Harbour - probably on a shoppong spree care of “you know who”. Has Goodman compensated Scott’s family yet for their terrible loss? His money would be better spent on Scotts mom before this gold digger!
FACT: Goodman is NOT a celebrity and most never heard of him outside the Polo community. No need to compare to OJ
FACT: The public outrage is at a boiling point with the speculation he will get off
FACT: NO attorney…including Roy Black is infallible. My guess is that he will have Goodman plea guilty to reduce his sentence
FACT: The prosecution is taking their time to make sure of their case. Had they arrested Goodman they would have had to charge him within 30 days which is too soon to get their case together
FACT: Goodman will be charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the sceene of an accident, reckless driving, testing positive for drugs and maybe even possession if they found his white powder in his car
He is NOT going to get away with this. The best Roy Black can do is get him bonded out after the charges come down and drag the case for as long as it takes.
Justice will prevail!
KARMA is a bitch!!!!!! What goes around comes around. I lost 23 months of my life to a drunk driver and I was one of the lucky ones, my best friend didn’t make it. He should be in jail or at the very least on house arrest IN HIS OWN HOME!!!!!!!! Or if that is too cusshie he should be in a MOTEL somewhere with a bed and a table and chair!!! Boy wish I could run away and go to a posh resort to lick my wounds!!!!!!
Everyones entitled to opinion but everyone should know the difference between right and wrong. This man killed someone and should be punished for his actions, end of story. The fact is that Scott Wilson was a good guy on his way home to spend time with his family. He had not been drinking or partying, just for the record.
This will be a test of the prosecutor and how he can justify it with the new State Attorney who right now wants to give out the max on sentences and prosecutors are afraid not to issue them for fear of their jobs.
Lets just watch and see what happens for this. He was driving wreckless or DUI and involved a death so he should receive the max for whichever they try him on.
95% it will be DUI with death, which carries some serious time. Something like 15 years in prison.
I’m hoping John Goodman is getting ready for a lengthy stay in prison by going to gay hotels, and nightclubs in Miami to spread…and loosen-up his anal muscles. They’ll be spread to the max in the joint.
I’m curious as to why his girlfriend has never been addressed in any of the articles. Was she with him at the time? I’m sure she was since they are always together. Why I’d bet she’s with him now while he’s luxuriating in South Beach! What a terrible time he’s having, kill someone then go hang out in a $1,000 a night hotel.
Goodman says he walked 1/4 mile up a dirt road to call 911. Right. Who doesn’t have a cell phone these days? More likely, he was looking for a good place to lose his stash, so the cops wouldn’t find it on him when they arrived. The mom’s lawyer should send drug sniffing dogs up that road. My guess is they’ll find a bag of cocaine with Mr. G’s prints all over it. He was probably doing a line when he ran the stop sign and killed that young man.
How great this county is…my son has a drug problem 18yrs old..he opened a car door,not shashed the window and took out $125.00 of property and $$.I am not saying it is ok to steal! He was given 1yr at drug farm.Maybe if I had the money!!!!! He would be at a nice rehab in Miami…this county sucks!
Look, being rich is not a crime in our society (yet). Killing someone while DUI is the crime. Leaving the scene is a crime. But. . .as far as I know, it’s not a crime to be a polo player, it’s not a crime to live in luxurious surroundings in this country (at least not yet). Be mad at him for causing the accident, but don’t get going with the reverse discrimination. Would you be as mad if a poor man with no insurance got drunk and did the same thing in his 1970 pickup truck? I doubt it. Although money can never replace a life or pay for this kind of crime, the parents of the young man killed will probably become rich because of this accident . . .do you really think they’re going to donate it all to Mothers Against Drunk Driving? I doubt it. Judge the guy for what he did, not what he has, please.