Billy Lane Gets 6 Years in Prison

Friday, August 14th 2009 At 9:am today Billy Lane, motorcycle builder and celebrity owner of custom motorcycle shop, Choppers Inc. attended his sentencing hearing with Brevard Circuit Court Judge Robert Burger regarding his DUI accident and vehicular homicide charges, which killed Gerald Morelock in September 2006. At a previous hearing a few weeks ago, prosecutors agreed to a "plea deal" that would reduce Lanes possible jail time to 9 years.

Lanes' attorney, Greg Eisenmenger, asked for a non-incarcerating sentence and suggested that Lane be able to continue his charity work and to help others After several witness, including Lanes' Mother and Father, testified to Lanes' changed lifestyle and remorsefulness, the Judge returned to announce his sentencing of 6 years in prison, 3 years probation, and a lifetime drivers license suspension. The Judge also ask that Lane be subject to random drug and alcohol testing after his release.

Before the Judge went to chambers for recess, Lane himself made a tearful plea to try and convey his own pain over the tragedy. This included an explanation of his ongoing pain when he travels the same road where the incident occurred, and cited his charity work and contact with the Morelock family.

After nearly three years of legal maneuvering including efforts to discredit Lanes' blood samples taken the night of the accident, the ongoing drama has come to what may be the end.

Lane still has the opportunity to appeal the sentencing for 30 days. Another twist to the tragedy was that Mr Morelock's blood also showed that he was impaired at the time of the accident when Lane veered into Morelock's lane and hit his small scooter head on.

Lane was taken into custody in the courtroom, handcuffed and taken to jail. Lane is 39.