They both whiff air and share ability to hire good lawyers! Billy Lane of Chopper Inc. rides. He’s a man’s man — a biker, a bike builder and trying to make a “honest mans” living. Britney just gets ridden – mostly into the gutter it seems. Billy states he’s not a celebrity. But, in his book it’s all about him being the fastest-rising star among high-profile custom chopper builders.
Britney on the other hand, with that “You’ll never see it my way, because you are not me”, a’tude is with out question a celeb. The Barister is nothing but a popwreck. Personally I wish she’d leave the U.S. with her lil’ doggie, London. K-fed has the kids now and with TMZ we get a blow-by-blow account of her daily action. The latest is driving with out a valid CA license and hit and run.
Wait! That’s curious… Barister and Billy both “Celebwrecks” get into auto incidents and life collides. Billy surrendered to Florida authorities last year after tests showed his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit during a collision that killed a moped rider. He was charged with driving under the influence-manslaughter, driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injuries. Toxicology tests showed that Billy’s blood-alcohol level was 0.192 percent, more than twice the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Come on…he’s a biker dude. So what — he was drunk, driving a heavy sponsored Dodge pickup truck and killed someone riding a scooter. OMG, you must get a criminal record to be a celeb, right?…that’s his strategy! Clearly his roadmap to stardom?! What’s next? Courtney Love (from the wacky and weird side of the planet) coming to Billy’s defense with that before you judge walka mile in his shoes…
Wait! There’s more…
At the time of Billy’s accident he was driving on a suspended license resulting from a prior accident in North Carolina, in which he had refused to take a blood-alcohol test. Bottom line Billy killed Gerald Vernon Morelock, a 56-year-old park ranger from Melbourne Beach, Fla., who was riding a Yamaha moped. The accident happened after Billy crossed a double yellow line on Highway A1A to pass at least two other vehicles before hitting the moped head-on.(R: Photo along with excellent coverage at Cyril Huze Blog)
Two of the charges – DUI-manslaughter and driving with a suspended license in conjunction with a death – are second-degree felonies and looking at up to 15 years in prison for each of those charges. Billy was booked into Brevard County Jail then released on a $15,000 bond. He issued a statement through his PR agency – now we’re talking Billy – all celebs have PR agents!
Then it gets creepy. The family of Morelock, Billy and attorneys for DaimlerChrysler, negotiated an out of court settlement. He was driving a promotional Dodge pickup when he killed Gerald Morelock. I’m sure that cost millions to settle, but a settlement was reached none the less for an undisclosed amount.
Billy’s criminal charges for DUI Manslaughter are still pending. His attorneys, “celeb’ed” him up — cut his hair and reports magically surfaced that he has stopped drinking as a result of the accident, duh?! The case has been postpone while they continue to investigate the charges.
As of this week (October 2007) wftv.com news is reporting that the celebrity motorcycle builder Billy Lane lawyer team has asked a judge to throw out blood alcohol results in his DUI manslaughter case.
Stand by to see what all that celeb money can do…
UPDATE: June 17, 2009 – Three years later and a lot of legal bills…last week Billy Lane pleaded guilty to a single charge of vehicular homicide. As part of the plea agreement prosecutors dropped the DUI manslaughter charge. Mr. Lane faces a maximum of 9 years in prison (sentencing is August 14). The deal also mandates a lifetime license suspension, but he might be able to retain use of it for specific purposes. The Defense attorney, Greg Eisenmenger will request a non-incarcerating sentence, but this is at the judge’s discretion.
UPDATE: August 14, 2009 — Billy Lane was sentenced today to six years in prison and three year’s probation in connection with the Labor Day 2006 crash that left Sebastian Inlet park ranger Gerald Morelock dead. Lane was immediately handcuffed and escorted from the courtroom. Judge Robert Burger also ordered Lane’s drivers license suspended for life and that he undergo random drug and alcohol testing upon his release from prison.
[…] blogged about this previously HERE. I have little tolerance. Not only did Billy kill a biker drunk driving in a free Dodge Truck […]