Billy Lane of Choppers Inc Gets 6 Years In Prison

Here is something I just read that I though might be of interest to motorcycle riders everywhere - not just those of us into classic motorcycles.

Billy Lane Sentenced To Six Years In Prison
A famous former motorcycle builder from Brevard County headed to prison Friday. Billy Lane was sentenced to six years in prison and three years probation after causing a crash that killed a fellow biker.

"It's been really, really tough, but it's something I have to live with everyday," Lane said inside the courtroom.

Lane was moved to the Brevard County jail after the sentencing Friday morning to be processed. Then he will be sent to the Department of Corrections Reception Center to assign him to a prison and give him a new job behind bars.

"I drive by the spot where I killed him everyday. My motorcycle, at least for the last 20 months I've had my license back, and I've had to think about what happened and I look up to the sky, pray to God for his soul and for his family," Lane said.

Billy Lane didn't offer any excuses for the drunk-driving crash that killed fellow biker Gerald Morelock on A-1-A in Melbourne Beach on September 4, 2006. He repeatedly took responsibility, telling the court he wasn't seeking pity.

"I made the single most irresponsible decision in my life and it cost another man his life," Lane said.

The 39-year-old Melbourne Beach man gained fame and notoriety for the stylish motorcycles he built and displayed on cable television. His attorney argued, if he was spared prison time, he could use that same notoriety to persuade young people not to drink and drive.

Prosecutors, though, worried allowing someone to walk away from killing someone simply because he was famous would send the wrong message.

"If Mr. Lane stocked shelves at Wal-Mart, I would submit to the court that we wouldn't be arguing that," a prosecutor said.

Lane faced nine years in prison under the plea deal, but the judge decided gave him a break, noting Lane's remorse. Afterward, the victim's brother offered his reaction.

"That's the judge's gig, not mine. You know, the judge asked me and I told him, 'That's your thing, not mine.' I'm not a judge," Gerald Morelock's brother said.

As for how Lane will get treated in prison, corrections officials said he will go into the general population, but still has to be evaluated before determining if he will go to a high-security prison or not.