Celebrity Justice
Lane Garrison Sentenced to Prison

A judge has sentenced "Prison Break" star Lane Garrison to a total of forty months -- nearly four years -- in state prison for the drunk driving crash that caused the death of 17-year-old Vahagn Setian.


As he sentenced him, Judge Elden Fox told Lane he thought he was a human being who made a very bad mistake -- and that he committed a crime and devastated three families.


Fox told Garrison, "I think you are truly remorseful," but sentenced him to prison because "the public needs to know crimes like this need to be punished and, unfortunately, you have to be the messenger." The sentence was based on Garrison's lack of prior criminal history and that he admitted responsibility, pleaded guilty right away and has offered the families financial assistance.

Before sentencing, a highly emotional Garrison told the victims' families he was "genuinely remorseful" and "sickened" by his behavior that night.

Garrison he will get credit for the 91 days he has already served. That, combined with California's Work Time/Good Time early release program, means he will likely be in state prison for about 20 months.

He must also pay close to $300,000 to the Setian family and to the two girls who were in the car.

Lane was quiet after the sentence was handed down and was taken away in handcuffs.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV

Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 16)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. thats it ?? four years?? celebrity justice strikes again

Posted at 1:37PM on Oct 31st 2007 by jimmy.

17. 11. kristin - He didn't get 40 months. Read the story. And Lindsay Lohan got of easy, she also didnt kill and disfigure like this idiot did.

Posted at 1:38PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Celly

18. He KILLED someone. How on earth can you tards say it's not enough time?? Seems pretty lenient to me-other people get life sentences or worse.

Posted at 1:39PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Hyde

19. The 40 months is actually 26 months after the good behavior discount. That is not enough punishment for taking the life of a teenager while high on drugs and drunk.

I do not think he got celebrity justice, he got California justice.

Again I say, the Federal authorities need to put that state under their supervision.

I would like to see some research on similar sentences for similar charges both in California and other states.

Posted at 1:40PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Stump

20. Just awful all around for everyone. I hope he can live with what he his actions have caused. He'll have the time to think about it, just not enough in my opinion...

Posted at 1:44PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Happy Hippie

21. HOW SAD FOR THE VICTIMS FAMALIES...
HE WILL BE OUT SOON, AND THEY WILL NEVER GET TO SEE THEIR DAUGHTER AGAIN...
SAD STORY!

Posted at 1:44PM on Oct 31st 2007 by AUNT DAR

22. is a life only worth 20 months in a countryclub prison? the judicial system sucks,i feel bad for the victims family knowing there child was only worth time at a countryclub and 100,000 dollars.Shame on the law,shame on Garrison and shame on that judge,you pathetic bastard!

Posted at 1:46PM on Oct 31st 2007 by country boy20

23. Let's see ... if I do the math: 1 drunk driver multiplied by 20 months divided into $300,000 plus 91 days 'time served' ... works out that: he's a celebrity zero.

Posted at 1:48PM on Oct 31st 2007 by ~pfft

24. Sixteen months??? My god. We have to get rid of judge's with stars in their eyes. My heart goes out to the victim's family. They must be crushed. Idiocy.

Posted at 1:49PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Phantom

25. fair sentence, while it will never bring the young man back, i do believe that maybe this will deter celebrities as well as "regular" citizens to THINK before you get behind the wheel. if you have had too much, call a cab. better yet, a designated driver BEFORE you get hammered is a REALLY good idea.

Posted at 1:51PM on Oct 31st 2007 by k.d.

26. He's going to do significant time for an accident - not premeditated murder. And really, for once, it was nice to see someone take responsibility and be genuinely remorseful. Nobody in this country ever apologizes. If he were the average person, he would have taken the case to trial, gone to jail and still never said a word to the families. I think in that regard, he's shown that he will learn from this. He'll do his time and hopefully be a productive member of society who can help educate others with regard to the effects of drugs and alcohol. Violent rapists get less time than that and it has nothing to do with celebrity. And of course it wasn't their fault, but what on earth were those kids doing getting into the car with a stranger? It's not like he mowed down a family crossing the street. These kids did not know this guy and got in the car with him. It's tragic for everyone.

Posted at 1:51PM on Oct 31st 2007 by c

27. What a wonderful difference in the Hollywood types! This is someone who has taken responsibility for his actions and is willing to face whatever consequences were handed down to him.

Yes, what he did was wrong. But from the get go, he has stepped up to the plate and behaved like a man. He admitted his fault, pled guilty and took it like a man. He appears to be truly remorseful for his actions. At no time did he try to push the responsibility of his actions off on anyone or anything! Not once did he say he did not know what he was doing because he was drunk/on drugs. To do so would have been to failure to take responsibility for his actions.

To me he is a bigger man than Mel Gibson! When Lane gets out of prison and resumes his acting career I will be the first in line to see whatever he appears in.

As for Mel Gibson - not a chance in he!! will I ever see anything he appears in, directs or produces. I have no respect for this man. Same goes for several other actors/actresses who behave so badly but think it is ok to do so. They depend on their fanbase for their livelyhood. I will not contribute.

All you Hollywood spoiled brats, sit up and take notice! This is how you SHOULD behave in the aftermath of your errors!!!

Posted at 1:53PM on Oct 31st 2007 by sanityrules

28. The people in California are insane , it's not just the celebs. You let all these people go, who commit crimes! Unreal! The streets are unsafe, you have murdering celebs walking around, drunk drivers all over the place, your all too brain dead to do anything about it! Mind boggling!

Posted at 1:54PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Lee

29. I have a real problem with the people that feel the sentence is not enough. Not one of their so called friends has seen fit to take even the smallest bit of resposibility for thier own actions that contributed to this horrible situation. they all seem to feel its fine for the drunk guy that they found already drunk, had him buy them liquor for thier party and then when the liqour ran out they sent the already drunk person to the store for more booze with three friends in the car. The drunk guy shouldnt be the one being punished! It should be the manipulative teenagers that pulled this stunt that should be taking responsibility for thier actions. But in this day in age its all about making sure the kids get what they want reguardless of the outcome.
And just for those idiots that want to say the kid that died was hero... Im sorry but It is not heroic to see that your friends have conned someone who is already impared to go buy liquor, decide it might be dangerous for them and then hop in the car to join them! thats not heroism, its stupidity.

So What happened to the saying friends dont let friends drive drunk? I guess it didnt matter to them since Lane Garrison was just a drunk fool they found at the grocery store so they didnt care if he got killed driving drunk!

Posted at 1:55PM on Oct 31st 2007 by pohono

30. LOL "I wonder if he will break out" hahahaha!!!

Posted at 1:55PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Anna

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

Hot Tips