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.

Reader Comments

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91. That's why I tell my son not to get in the car with people when he is old enough to go out on his own. Hey at least he manned up and hopefully he will come out of this a better person.

Posted at 2:53PM on Oct 31st 2007 by anonymous

92. I'm sure Lane's family is looking forward to the day that he can walk out of jail a free man and they can welcome him back. Unfortunately, the family of the boy who died in the accident will never have that luxury. Let's not forget the facts. Bottom line, someone died because of the choices Lane made. HE was the one driving, HE was the one who knew he had had too much to drink, yet HE was the one who chose to get behind the wheel. Those were all bad choices, but they were HIS alone. Yes, he was a man about it and plead guilty and took responsibility, however, someone died. When does one life have more value than another?

Posted at 2:55PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Shaka

93. We have become a society that doesn't believe that a life is of much value. If he had committed a major drug offense and was black what do you think his sentence would have been? A child died. A family will never have this child home for Christmas. Think of mothers day or fathers day without your son. Think of someone taking your sons life away for nothing your child did. Think of never being able to hear your sons voice again. There will be no grandchildren from this child. His parents will never be able to see this child grow into an adult and some thnk that 4 years is enough time? What type of person thinks like that? You obviously have never lost a child or you wouldn't be so heartless.

When you kill someone you should be put away forever. Do you think after twenty month that Lane will be celebrating the holidays with his love ones? Do you think he will be able to go to the beach with his friends? This child that he kill will not. Forgiveness is one thing but Lane still has his life.

If someone killed your mother or father or child would you be so please that the murderer ONLY got 4 years? Would you be happy to see your childs murder at the same store that you were shopping at? Would you be happy to hear that your childs murder was still making movies or on TV while you still grieved for a childs who's memory is all you have?

When you believe that 4 years or 20 months is long enough time to serve for the killing of a child then you have no understanding of human life and how precious it is. Nor can you even be thinking of what his parents, family and freinds will FOREVER have to go through for the rest of their lives. Lane may be remorseful but he will be able to go on with his life. Will his family and friends be able to also?

Posted at 8:21AM on Nov 6th 2007 by dawson

94. #72 - Prison is for punishment.

Posted at 2:57PM on Oct 31st 2007 by a-lo

95. I really don't get the people say the sentence is too harsh...for KILLING SOMEBODY,WHILE HIGH ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. I bet these are the same people who said Vick should be "killled" and "rot in hell" for his actions. How can you not have sympathy for this family their child, brother, friend, cousin is gone forever. The sentence is a little light if you ask me. I've seen people do way worse crimes and get 10 times that amount of time.

Posted at 2:58PM on Oct 31st 2007 by College Grad and Foreva a fan of HIp HOp

96. I don't disagree that he should serve time, but that's a little too much time. The other people in the car were 17 (approx.), they should have known better than to get in the car with him.

Posted at 3:00PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Melissa

97. nobody cares .his a nobody

Posted at 3:02PM on Oct 31st 2007 by jen

98. Too bad for him, cause if he was Black he'd of gotten off scott free..... and set out to do it
all over again with no reprocussions, just a simple fine, and off he would have went. But he's white, and therefore he pays !!

Posted at 3:02PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Me

99. HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE YEAR FOR EACH YEAR OF THAT YOUNG MAN'S LIFE. Twenty months is simply not enough time. Yes, he made a terrible decision - he got wasted, picked up some teenagers and got behind the wheel of his car. Yes, he's sorry, took responsibility and plead guilty. Regardless, it is his actions that resulted in a teenage boy paying with his life. My sympathy goes directly to the family of the young man who was recklessly killed by Lane Garrision. That's who I feel sorry for. Period.

Posted at 3:08PM on Oct 31st 2007 by sanniemason

100. nobody cares .his a nobody

Posted at 3:02PM on Oct 31st 2007 by jen

101. Yeah, he gets 3 years and that C0CK-Stain Nick Hogan gets nada... F- that noise.

Posted at 3:02PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Rick

102. i have to admit that i respect that guy. he took the blame and apologized sincerely. he took financal responsibility and did not try to weasel out on the victims...

my deepest condolonces to the family of the victim that didn't make it that night.

hopefully this will teach kids & adults that drinking & driving is a very bad choice. not even one beer when behind the steering wheel should be the law... people get tempted by the 1-3 beers or 2 glasses of wine that let's them stay below the legal limit only to end up drinking more and driving very drunk.... even @ a blood alcohol of .03 people have much worse reaction than sober...

Posted at 3:06PM on Oct 31st 2007 by smokeonit

103. 20 months!!! wow.....I can't beleive that some of you think it is too much!!!!My goodness......so he is remourceful!!!!!! big deal....he killed a life , if this child was any one of yours, i do not think you would think that 2 little years would be enough for such a remourceful person that in today's day and age there should be NO DRUNK DRIVING....hey, I was always told you have to pay for your actions.....he is getting away with iot because he is a celeberty.....I wonder if it was regular person with not so much money (STILL VERY REMOURCEFUL) but could not offer any compensation money to these families if it would be the same punishment....I can't beleive the judge would even say "UNFORTUNATLY IT HAS TO BE YOU" uhhh excuse me HE COMMITTED THE CRIME and we turn him into a martyr???? I AM SICKENED BY THIS> these teenage movie stars with all this moneyu should get off the streets and stop acting like they can get away with anything....well thanks to our system THEY DO!!!! god help us

Posted at 3:07PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Lola

104. #83 Actually we are both right....it is for both reformation and punishment....I looked the "official" definition up...that being said I am sure the judge had that (his current and future reformation) in mind when creating his "punishment." I respect the amount of time and think it is correct (as I stated before). My other comments still stand.

Posted at 3:07PM on Oct 31st 2007 by sydjulia22

105. Ridiculous comments all the way around. If this was your child killed by ANY drunk driver, regardless of celebratory status, I would hope you would push for the maximum sentence. Being remorseful after the fact doesnt do much for me. Neither do his looks. Idiots.

Posted at 3:24PM on Oct 31st 2007 by Pat D.

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