Judge Rejects Motion To Have Billy Lane Sentence Reduced.

billylanesentencingAs reported on my post last Tuesday October 20, attorneys for Billy Lane, 39 filed a motion asking Brevard Circuit Judge Robert Burger to give the crash victim’s family another chance to say what kind of punishment they think he should receive and to reduce Lane’s prison sentence. For attorneys Greg Eisenmenger and Robert Berry this motion was justified because at time of sentencing on October 14, 09 the victim’s brother, Byron Morelock, and nephew, Sean Morelock, declined to recommend a prison sentence to Circuit Judge Robert Burger. The family believes that Billy Lane would better be able to benefit society if he were not incarcerated. Yesterday, the motion filed was rejected by Judge Burger. Billy Lane is currently serving his 6-year prison time at the Avon Park Work Camp in Florida (picture Billy Lane at sentencing 08/14/09).

46 Responses to “Judge Rejects Motion To Have Billy Lane Sentence Reduced.”


  1. 1 John P. Oct 24th, 2009 at 6:15 am

    Be a man. Do your 85% time.

  2. 2 BadMonkeyMW Oct 24th, 2009 at 9:17 am

    Easy to say when you’re not doing the time.

  3. 3 Roadside Marty Oct 24th, 2009 at 10:03 am

    BadMonkeyMW’s right, if you were doing the time I think you would want out ASAP as well!

  4. 4 Bigalyts Oct 24th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    That’s Right, easy to say Looking at it from a Lap Top, John P. This Judge is from Red Neck, County, Florida. He aien’t from Dade.Maybe, Billy will build a Bike in there and Ride Away !

  5. 5 J Oct 24th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    Too high of a profile to be shown any leniency, and besides, this case never qualified for it;

    Family chose not to make a recommendation at the time of sentencing, judge passed sentence- no “do-overs” here because no judge is ever gonna let his authority be usurped post-sentence.

    Already been too many “second chances” in this deal, anyway…..

  6. 6 A$$HOLE Oct 24th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    Holy shit man, he is only doing 5 years. Suck it up and do your time, and take your medicine like a man. 5 years for killing someone is obsurd. If it was me I would be in for 10-20 just because I am a nobody. 5 years is like a PV for an old drug case or something. There are people doing life for killing someone while DUI. Hell Balloon boy’s father is facing more time than that for being a nut job. He really should count his blessings and spend the time coming up with ways to reinvent himself, and make this tragedy into an opportunity to help others.

  7. 7 EBass Oct 24th, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    “Suck it up and do your time”

    My guess is that’s EXACTLY what Lane is doing right now.

  8. 8 Mr. Obama Oct 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pm

    Keep the Drunk locked up.

    For a long time.

    Restitution is due.

  9. 9 Karend6656 Oct 25th, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Why is everyone saying to Billy “suck it up” or “be a man” Billy hasn’t asked the Morelock family to try to change anything, Billy has made sure he apologized to the family, because he really is remorseful for what he did!!!
    Please people, This a a real human being you are all giving shit to. If any of you ever spent anytime inside, you would want out as soon as possible as well.
    But you all have to realize the Morelock family requested all of this to be reduced, not Billy, Billy stood up like a man and took his punishment….and he is doing it…Leave Billy alone…on this one..

  10. 10 NEWT Oct 25th, 2009 at 9:11 am

    KAREND6656,

    Well, said, the internet has created an interesting place for the onimous to cast stones without revealing there own skeletons. I’m sure Billy is in his own hell in jail right now with more than enough time to reflect on what damage this accident has created. It is a good bet that all of us have done something in our lives that could have put others in harms way at one time or another….. and are fortunate that it didn’t end in this tragic fashion. If you are perfect, without fault, then put your name and face out there for all to see.

  11. 11 Asa Oct 25th, 2009 at 9:28 am

    With any luck Billy will most likley do 30% of his sentence . Thats huge if you are the one doing it . I dont care what the deal is Jail sucks , If any of you were in there you would most assured want out asap . I dont approve of what Billy did ,But hey (But for the grace of God there go I ). Years ago on Many different times I could have had this happened to me or worse I could have been killed .So I would guess as Billy is getting to know the ways of the inter world he is in at this time he will make the best of what time he has and do it like a man . After all Guys this is all he can do , My prayers are with him and the Morelock family .God Bless alll Bikers we are after all just humans when its all said and done.

  12. 12 cooldaddy51 Oct 25th, 2009 at 9:32 am

    The “time ” is what it is but no license for life? If that really is the case then Lane’s “suffering ” will continue for a lifetime.That is a freedom lost that is extreme.Even if he did ten or fifteen ,then its done! But the continuous pain of not being able to ride or travel for the rest of your life? Our existence is based on our mobility !

  13. 13 BikerMarc Oct 25th, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Hey all,

    Gotta be a “positive” side here to this tragedy somewhere. New bike theme anyone?

    JailBird Bobber?
    SteelCage Bagger?
    ShittyFood Sporster?
    Felon#09 Choppa?
    OuttaHere Cruiser?

    Noone wins in these terrible life circumstances. God Bless all those affected.

    BikerMarc

  14. 14 Karend6656 Oct 25th, 2009 at 9:59 am

    NEWT,
    Thank you, I said what I did because (I have said this since this mess started) that we all at one time or another have been at a wedding, party , whatever and have gotten behind the wheel or gotten on our bikes and have driven home drunk. Hence I haven’t had a drink in 32 years now, I have been there,fortunately the families car I totaled, none of them died. Thank God, I know what Billy is going through.
    Sometimes we do stupid things, and everyone and I mean everyone Has done exactly that, Only they don’t want to admit it online….all of these people giving shit to Billy are faceless online so they talk out of their ass. Thanks for agreeing.

  15. 15 Bigalyts Oct 25th, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Everyone’s a Real “Suck it up” “Do your Time, Man” “You did the Crime, do the Time” Hard ASSES ! You know 5 Years is a LIFE TIME, when you are truely, Sorry, and you didn’t Kill a SOBER, Human Being that had Contributed to the Negligence of the Accident. In Dade County he would end up doing a 18 months. You Know there is ONE REASON that He is Taking it like a Man.? That Reason being that HE DID NOT RUN after He hit Mr. Morelock !He Stopped and tried to Help !

  16. 16 Karend6656 Oct 25th, 2009 at 11:54 am

    Bigalyts
    APPLAUD!!!! YOU ARE 1000000% CORRECT Billy didn’t run He stayed,even though impaired and waited for the police… He knew what he did and he stood up and stayed like A REAL MAN SHOULD…BECAUSE HE IS A REAL MAN WHO TOOK RESPONSIBILTIE FOR WHAT HAPPENED…

  17. 17 A$$HOLE Oct 25th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Part of being a real man is paying the consequenses for your actions. Awww, he feels bad. That makes it all better then, right? Not even close. Yeah five years is a bit of time, but so is a death penalty for the other guy. He is really standing up like a man and taking it with out asking for anything…except for his already short sentance to be reduced. Gimmie a break! As for being a faceless whatever…it is a blog on the internet. I am not required to put my name and face out there to simply post a comment. As for having done the samething before, yeah I have had a few drinks and driven, but I have also called a friend when I was too drunk to drive, and uh, no, I have not killed anyone as a result of my actions. You are only kissing his ass because he is a celebrity, and part of the motorcycle industry you enjoy being a part of so much. Had the victim been your husband, son, brother you would have a different tune. 5 years is a Martha Stewart punishment for taking another person’s life. He will likely be out in 2-3 anyways so it will be ok for you groupies. I am sure he will get another reality show, and even a boost to his image as a big bad biker, having been a convicted felon, done time, and even killed a man. Biker Mark.,. I am voting for Bubba’s Neal and Bobbers custom hardtails.

  18. 18 MIKEOUT Oct 25th, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    A$$HOLE,
    You are absolutely correct. The only reason people are crying tears for Billy is because they think he’s a motorcycle god. He should have gotten more time, but I do like the part of him never having a drivers license again. How long do you think it will take after he’s out before he hops on a bike and goes around the block?( not long at all ) Once he does, and all of you know he will. That will be the day he shows the WORLD just how remorseful he really is and that he really thinks he is above the law.

  19. 19 Todd8080 Oct 25th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Karend6656:

    “If any of you ever spent anytime inside, you would want out as soon as possible as well.”

    Are we talking about a coffin here?

  20. 20 Karend6656 Oct 25th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    A$$hole & MIKEOUT:

    First of All Billy Lane is NOT a MOTORCYCLE GOD! only the little 20 year old groupies think so.
    HE IS paying the consequenses for his actions!!!

    A$$hole are you aware of the fact that Mr Morelock (God rest his soul) was also extremly DRUNK? both involved are guilty. And some of us aren’t his “GROUPIES” just old friends. And BTW I personally had a family memember killed 22 years ago by a drunk driver. Yes it hurt, it still does. However after all of the hearings, trials and all the legal bullshit, the man that killed my cousin (who btw was 18 years old) showed so much remorse, that all he could do was apologize a million times. He offered us a ton of money,(NO WE DIDN’T TAKE IT) Not to bribe but to try to make up for what was lost He was very well known celebritity from the Hamptons, A Rock star to be excat, Where I lived, , after 3 years in court, we got to tell the judge what us the family wanted as punishment, to do public announcements telling the public, that he killed my 18 year old cousin because he himeself was drunk.

    He got 3 years in prision and 5 years probation including the public announcements and going around to all the high schools on Long Island telling them He killed an 18 year old boy! so yea It happened to me and my family. Putting someone in jail for a stupid thing that was done doesn’t bring back the dead. . Billy is EXTREMELY REMORSEFUL.. You don’t even know the man I would bet, so how can you judge??? Seriously, you never drove your car or bike Drunk???? I am positive and I don’t know either one of you, that not everytime you were drunk, you called a friend to take you home…

  21. 21 T1 Oct 25th, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    Florida must be a hell of a place to drive. LOL

  22. 22 Karend6656 Oct 25th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Todd8080: I have spent time inside. that is why I am so passsionate about all this shit… read my second posting here!!!!

  23. 23 A$$HOLE Oct 25th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    Karen65…
    First off I DID say I have had a few beers, and drove. I also know when to say when, and if I am drunk, I DO call for a ride. It makes no difference if the other gentleman was drunk, he is DEAD now. Had it gone the other way, and the other guy killed Billy, I would expect him to get more than five years as well. That is the problem these days. You make a terrible choice, costing someone their life, and as a result you get a slap on the wrist. It hardly makes for a good deterrent to yourself, and to others to avoid the same mistake. I have nothing personally against the man, and wish him no ill will, however he should have gotten a harsher sentance. 5 years is merely an inconvenience. I have done a bit of time myself, and I did not at the time, nor now do I feel it was the end of the world to me. I am sorry for your loss, as that sounds like a tragic scenario to have to go through, but that does not invalidate my point. He got far less than he should have as well. No, putting them in jail does not bring the deceased back, but it does punish the person that committed the crime. Saying I AM SORRY does not cut it. Being remorseful does not cut it. Offering money does not cut it. Jail is to be PUNISHMENT. It is supposed to suck. You are not supposed to be happy with your sentence. Of course you would want to get out ASAP. That is the point of jail. When you take someones life you should spend the rest of your life making up for your stupidity. You get more time for a bar room fight, a PV for a drug posession case, for running from the cops, or for calling some one a racial name. Child rapists get out in 10, murderers get out in 15. That is my point to all of this. We need to add some teeth to our punishments to make people make better choices, that is all.

  24. 24 Big Dummy Dave Oct 26th, 2009 at 7:29 am

    Dear karend,

  25. 25 Big Dummy Dave Oct 26th, 2009 at 7:32 am

    Dear Karend,
    I wish you were right in you post, but you are not. billy was not just coming back from a wedding party, he had been out all day parting with some hot little chick from South Carolina. And if you will check out the pictures posted in October at Biketoberfest two months after the killing you will see the same ole Billy Lane sucking down his beer. bottle in hand.

  26. 26 ibethekid Oct 26th, 2009 at 7:35 am

    The man made a mistake like most people do. If he could start that day over and take it all back I’m sure he would. He has unspeakable pain to deal with just as the victims do. If he can deal with the pain with inside himself he will never feel the walls.

  27. 27 Karend6656 Oct 26th, 2009 at 7:41 am

    A$$HOLE: I am sorry for my comments to you. I apologize, and yes I do agree with you that if you kill someone you get punished…ABSOUTLEY. and if spending time inside and I mean 15,—30 or life I agree….. it’s just this entire blogging about Billy getting special attention is out of hand. we all sit here and blog about (thank you Cyril) is just getting out of hand.
    some of the people on this blog have no clue (just my opinon) and after a while,it just pisses me off. I think only because I have been there… So please accept my apology for blowing up at you!

  28. 28 Karend6656 Oct 26th, 2009 at 7:56 am

    BIG DUMMY DAVE: If you would have read what I wrote, I used “wedding” as an example. I never said Billy doesn’t drink, and yes almost every picture of Billy he either has a beer or a girl in his hand. He also knew at the time that picure that you speak of of taken, that HE WAS GOING TO DO TIME. He is remorseful, but let me ask you a question, If God forbid you were in his shoes, and you where told by your attorneys, and all of these blogs that you would be going away for possibly life, or maybe just even 15 years, wouldn’t you be out living you life to the fullest before they took you away?? I know I would…and not that it’s right, but we are all human..

  29. 29 rainbowwarrior24 Oct 26th, 2009 at 8:16 am

    I support the Judge’s decision. Again, 6 years is a short amount of time for killing someone because you ignored basic traffic laws.

  30. 30 amy irene white Oct 26th, 2009 at 9:51 am

    good god this is a lot of goin’s on for a Monday morning. the appeals and yadda yadda goin on now has positively nothing to do with the hashed over arguements goin on here anyways. it’s just the high priced attorneys that billy undoubtedly pays thousands and thousands of dollars to take care of his business doing their jobs. He is getting awakened by yelling guards every morning, eating crappy food, wearing a jumpsuit or some such crap every day, and having to shower with other men. leave him alone already… ya’ll have beat this dead horse til it has maggots flyin out of it. HE IS DOING WHAT THEY TOLD HIM TO DO TO PAY RESTITUTION. as far as the “killing a man”, it was just a horrible accident, and both were at fault. how both will spend their time has been decided by God and a redneck judge. billy will deal with the death in his own way, and that is between his soul and his maker… not any of ya’ll’s business. i believe he will come through it a better man, and a stronger one. i wish him luck. i am not a huge billy groupie or family member or whatever. i do admire his work, and totally agree that we have all done stupid shit like this too. i damn sure have. ‘there but for the grace of god go i’ and all that. some of the greatest artists ever to walk the face of the earth have done time… merle haggard. johnny cash… you wanna bitch about drinking in public? can you say hank williams.. sr or jr, take your pick.. kid rock… jesse james dupree… okay, he has had a few scrapes with the law for drinking… have any of you ever heard of george jones??? its part of their image. that doesnt mean that they do that 24/7 (except for maybe george back in the day). i know that i most certainly don’t sit around the house in my high heels and full make up and boobs pushed up in a corset all day with a bottle of old grandad in my hand, but that is what i will look like in pictures at rallies. ya’ll sound like a bunch of constipated old women sittin around farting and complaining…. next subject please….. ~the wicked bitch

    p.s. those who are saying five years is nothing, try knowing you have a disease that is killing you, and you were given a possible 10 yrs in 2003. 5 years is a lifetime.

  31. 31 Kenny Oct 26th, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    i really dont know how how everyone is so up in arms about the drunk guy who killed a fellow biker. a life sentence would have been appropriate for first degree murder. do the crime, do the time. man up!

  32. 32 Mr. Obama Oct 26th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    My brother Kenny speaks wise words. There is a dead man in this scenario.

  33. 33 J Oct 26th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Just goes to show you judges hate bikers. I’ve worked in the legal field for over a decade and never heard of a judge giving anything but the max sentence they could impose. We’re still enduring discrimination for the actions of a few bad apples in the past. I say appeal the sentence, get signed clemency petitions from the victim’s family and community, and send them to the newspapers and governor as quickly as possible.

  34. 34 Todd8080 Oct 26th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    amy irene white:

    “…it was just a horrible accident…”

    Horrible yes, accident, no.

    An accident is something you have no control over. When you intentionally drink & drive, intentionally speed and intentionally pass on a double yellow, whatever occurs as a result is no accident.

    If you close your eyes and fire a gun into a crowded room and kill someone you don’t know and weren’t aiming at, is that an accident?

    We all have choices; Lane chose poorly. What amazes me is that many people reading about this tragedy will still choose to drink & drive.

  35. 35 deathtrap Oct 26th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    Im sure billy is remorseful for his actions and wishes he could do it over, but all of this talk of him being a man and taking his punsihment is crazy. Everyone of us would do what ever we could to lessen our sentance. If you want to talk about sentances look at the cleveland browns donte stallworth, he killed someone while drunk this summer and did 30 days.

  36. 36 Drew Oct 27th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    I have sat from afar for years now and read these types of comments over and over again here at Cyrils and other chopper forums too. I first met Billy Lane in Daytona years ago when the Biker Buildoff craze was big, beer was flowing heavily and economic times were much different. I appreciated his work immediately, yes for the motorcycles but also from an artistic perspective as the attention to detail and unique use of hot rod and high speed art was very tastefully done in my opinion. Billy’s creativity was obviously flowing and with each new bike came some new twist on ideas that have been done before. For anyone who has ever embarked on this adventure themself (building a bike) you know how difficult this can be! To get back to my main point here with success also came failure for Billy. I can say first hand that Billy was more than remorseful, for anyone who saw him address the judge and family in the court case that was not an act and those emotions were real and raw. I told Billy more than once that sometimes bad things happen to good people and I still believe this to this day. One thing that was obvious is that no matter how many times I said it or how much I tried to express my sincerity there was no comfort for Bill. I suspect that he was harder on himself, ashamed and scarred for what happened more than any prison cell would ever be able to provide. I will not ramble on but for what it’s worth Bill is a man like any other, has feelings and regrets like us all and maybe for a while believed what it was that TV, fame and fortune and all of the rest built him up to be. I am merely a man who admired his work, I am not a judge or jury and believe that there is good in everyone. Before you judge Bill personally put yourself or your son or daughter in his shoes and then ask yourself. Is it possible that sometimes bad things can happen to good people? Personally I say yes and recognize that it is not my place to judge him or anyone else. There is forgiveness for Billy Lane this I am sure of, today in society it seems like we love to build them up and then love to tear them down. This too shall pass, peace be with you Bill —Drew in Tampa

  37. 37 Jeff Nicklus Oct 28th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Any bets on whether or not Billy appeals this decision to a higher court or not?

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  38. 38 Karend6656 Oct 28th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    Jeff, who the hell knows at this point and time time will tell

  39. 39 A$$HOLE Oct 28th, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    Jeff I will take that bet. Of course he will. He will spend his 5 years trying to get a shortened sentance. But then again that is what all real men do. Especially the ones standing up and doing their time for their crime.

  40. 40 nicker Oct 28th, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    Jeff,

    The human instinct for self preservation is VERY strong.
    And hard-time is not only “no much fun”….. not to mention very, VERY dangerous.

    Bet on appeal……
    (Hell, i would. Wouldn’t you?)

    -nicker-

  41. 41 GeorgeG/ Oct 29th, 2009 at 6:38 am

    Hang in there Billy .you,ll be out before you know it! Peace

  42. 42 Jeff Nicklus Oct 29th, 2009 at 9:06 am

    A$$hole, Nicker & Karen,

    I would bet my last dollar he files an appeal to the Superior Court …. I know I would! After all …. what does he have to lose …. they can’t increase his sentence and hell it gives him something to do during the “boring” times in the ol’ lock up!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  43. 43 A$$HOLE Nov 1st, 2009 at 1:14 am

    Any idea as to where he is doing his time at? I cannot see him in a really dangerous situation, as someone stated above.

  44. 44 Drew Nov 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    A$$HOLE , he is in a Federal Prison in the state of Florida, any State / Federal Penn has risks of physical danger. I would appeal too

  45. 45 Keith G Nov 12th, 2009 at 4:32 am

    If it was my brother that got killed i’d want blood, If it was me that did the dirty deed, (DUI), then I’d with remorse would want a break, RIP to the man who gave his all, Hopefully Billy will not have to do to much time, because a lot of people, who did nothing love/like him and they don’t deserve to not see him. Whatever your position people, life is short, and full of trouble. I pray very little comes the way of whoever reads this.

    We all need forgiveness, and love

  46. 46 sam Dec 22nd, 2009 at 10:39 am

    I had the pleasure of meeting Billy in Nov. 2007. Billy really is the most polite celebrity I have met. We went to his shop and was looking around and was about to leave when he came out of the back and told us to hang on and he would come out and meet us. To this day I still have the pictures hanging on the wall in my garage of Billy and myself. I hope this does not get him down and he continues to do the things he loves when he is released. Billy keep your chin up and we hope to see you soon. For all the haters out there jealousy is a bitch.

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Cyril Huze