An actor of TV series Prison Break was sentenced on
Wednesday to three years and four months in prison for a
drunken-driving crash that killed a 17-year-old student last
December.
Lane Garrison pleaded guilty in May to vehicular manslaughter
without gross negligence and driving under the influence causing
injury. He has been jailed since he was ordered three months later
to undergo a psychological evaluation by California state prison
officials.
The 27-year-old actor also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor
count of providing alcohol to a minor and admitted an allegation of
having a higher blood-alcohol level. Police said Garrison had a
blood-alcohol content of .20 -- more than twice the legal limit --
and was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the
crash.
Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Elden Fox could have
sentenced Garrison to as much as six years and eight months in
prison.
The charges stemmed from the death of a 17-year-old Beverly
Hills High School student, who was a passenger in the 2001 Land
Rover Garrison was driving when it struck a tree in Beverly Hills
last December.
A group of parents, teachers, students and area residents
gathered petitions with more than 3,600 signatures calling on the
judge to impose the maximum state prison term.
Garrison apologized to the victim's family at his last court
appearance in August.
In a recently filmed public service announcement, a teary-eyed
Garrison said his life "changed forever" on the day of the crash
and implored viewers not to drink and drive.
On Fox TV's popular drama series Prison Break, Garrison
played the character Tweener, who was killed off in an October 2006
episode. He was also part of the Paramount film Shooter,
which was released earlier this year.
(CRI.cn November 1, 2007)