A former actress from “Melrose Place” could return to prison despite having already served a sentence for a fatal drunk driving accident
A former “Melrose Place” actress who has already served a sentence in a fatal drunk driving accident could return to prison.
The complicated legal history of the case against Amy Locane includes three sentences imposed by two judges, as well as numerous appeals. It stems from an accident in March 2010 that killed Helene Seeman and seriously injured her husband, Fred, when they entered their driveway in Montgomery Township, in central New Jersey.
Locane’s case has rebounded in the New Jersey court system for several years, as prosecutors have sought a longer sentence than was initially imposed by a judge in 2013.
This week, an appeals court ruled that a different judge improperly resent it last year and returned the case for another sentence.
The ruling issued on Wednesday also rejected Locane’s argument that sentencing her again violates double-risk protections since she has already completed her sentence and probation.
James Wronko, Locane’s attorney, said Friday that he would appeal to the state Supreme Court, a process that could take several months.
“Em. Locane has been out of prison for five years, and it has been two years since she completed probation,” Wronko said. “During all this time, she did everything she was asked to do, and it is difficult to explain to his two daughters why five years later mommy is being jailed. ”
The actress claimed that the accident was an accident and that a third motorist, whose car had collided with Locane at a stoplight minutes earlier, distracted her by touching and chasing her.
The indictment did not mention the poisoning, but a state expert testified that Locane’s blood alcohol level was approximately three times the legal limit and that he was driving approximately 53 mph (85 km / h) in a 35 mph (56 km / h) zone in the time of the accident.
She was convicted of several charges, including involuntary vehicle manslaughter, and faced a range of five to 10 years’ sentence on the most serious charge. The state requested a seven-year sentence, but the judge sentenced her to three years. An appeals court ruled he misapplied the law, but in a new ruling, the same judge declined to give Locane additional time.
This week’s ruling criticized state Superior Court Judge Kevin Shanahan, who reunited Locane last year at five years, for employing “a methodology of his own” and ignoring instructions from a previous appeals court on how he should weigh the factors. mitigating and aggravating in the case.
The appeals court also held that Locane gave up dual-risk protections when he began to serve his initial sentence voluntarily while the state was still appealing it.
“When the government timely appeals an initial sentence or a sentence imposed in a new sentence, the accused is advised that the sentence may change and cannot acquire a legitimate expectation of finality,” the judges wrote.
Wronko questioned that analysis, saying that Locane did not voluntarily surrender in 2013, but that the state tried to revoke his bond and the judge agreed.
Locane acted in 13 episodes of the popular Fox series and has also appeared in several movies.
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