Comments on: Billy Lane Changes Attorney In Criminal DUI Manslaughter Case

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:52:04 +0000

BossHawg -

I saw on-line last week that he is going to trial February 9, 2009. And that a second charge has been filed. I found it by going to Google, clicking News and searching for Billy Lane.

It’s about F***in’ time! I know that the wrongful death suit was settled, but those involved cannot talk about it. I’m still in touch with Gerry’s brother.

Gerry and I attended a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young concert on Labor Day weekend in 1974. The opening act was Santana, the second bill was The Band. Hell of a show!

By: BossHawg

BossHawg — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:37:04 +0000

What’s going on with the Billy Lane trial? Isn’t it about time to judge him?

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:14:57 +0000

I was paralyzed in a drunk driving accident and I think EVERYONE needs to realize that sometimes the choices we make cause consequences are that are VERY “real”. I say “real” because getting caught by the police isn’t a real consequence. Causing death, dismemberment, permanent disability or even serious injury is “real”. Getting caught is just an opportunity to grow, and learn to make better choices that don’t put the lives of others at risk. This was no “accident”, it was a “choice”. An accident is something that just happens and can’t be helped, but a “choice” means that it DID NOT have to happen. My accident wasn’t quite like Billy’s but still could have had the same consequences. Luckily, I was the only one who suffered the consequences of my actions. I ran into 3 trees, a telephone pole, and a house doing 130mph in my new Camaro. I was thrown out of the car and onto the roof of the house. I rolled off the OTHER side of the house and fell onto the porch. I was extremely intoxicated with a BAC of .27. I made a documentary, and I now speak in schools around the country about the truly real consequences of abusing alcohol and drunk driving. I know first hand the choices we make can affect the rest of your life. I wish I would have realized that sooner but I always thought these things only happened to “other people.” Well, now I’M “other people.” If anyone would like to see that I’m not full of BS, I do have a web site, http://www.ForeverChangedLLC.com. Unfortunately, I DO know what I’m talking about, and I learned it the hard way. PLEASE don’t learn it the same way. I “lucked out” and only hurt myself without killing or maiming any innocent people. I fought in Iraq, come home without a “physical” scratch, but I was angry, and felt invincible. Well, THAT mixed with alcohol is a bad combination and I would LOVE to get into the military instillations along with the schools because I think I could help. I now realize how lucky I actually was. I drove my cars, and rode my Harley’s drunk MANY times and made it home….until the one time I didn’t make it home. I have been riding motorcycles since I was 4 and Harley’s from the time I was 20. I’m now 39 and I still ride, but I could have lost the ability to do that too. I can live without walking but not riding. I put a sidecar on my Electraglide and rigged a hand shifter. I really am lucky. I said that “I wish I would have learned sooner” but if my accident can save ONE life then it was worth it. I also believe that this is what I was “meant” to do. I FINALLY made some good come from my accident. It took losing the life of a friend of mine on his Harley, and drunk, to finally decide to do something. Although I tried, I couldn’t stop him from leaving, I’ll have to live with the fact that I just didn’t try hard enough to stop him for the rest of my life. I hope that Billy does something to make some good come from this sooner than I did. I’m kinda hard headed. I’ll stop babbling now, but I ask everyone that bothered to read my “babbling” in this lengthy “novel” to; PLEASE, make better choices than I did. Like I said, I thought these things only happened to “other people” and now I’m “other people”. I don’t want to see anyone else become “other people” too.

By: Brett

Brett — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:39:08 +0000

Jawschopper…why hate anyone?? In the case of your best buddies, I think you need to help the living one get through it & keep the other’s memory alive. In the Billy Lane case, do you know anyone involved personally? If not, then why hate any of them?

By: jawschopper

jawschopper — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:10:06 +0000

somtimes life can throw big balls of XXXX at you.
i keep reading lock up the drunk throw away the key
i think billy is punished in his own head
this kind of thing dosent just go away
he has to live with it for the rest of his life
that is a long time.
things like this cause alot of hate
i have been riding for over 20 years and i lost a best buddy to another
best buddy and we were all drunk
so who am i suppose to hate?

By: Mike Odom

Mike Odom — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:14:10 +0000

Jake, The new court date for the criminal trial has been set for 9/21/2007 after the June 29th calendar call. You can read more on that in the article Billy Lane DUI case still on hold - Blood work being looked at.

By: JakeSabre

JakeSabre — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 17:59:52 +0000

Any news on a new court date? Thanks for all your work Mike, am following this thread closely.
Jake

By: Mike Odom

Mike Odom — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:01:25 +0000

Rick,
We have a court date set for calendar call tomorrow 9:00 am in the criminal case. I plan on being present.

By: sandie

sandie — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:43:13 +0000

Look at the Brevard County Clerk of Courts website and you will see the latest.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:14:19 +0000

Please post any information if anyone hears anything about this case

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:32:50 +0000

What is going on with this case, has anyone heard anything?

By: sandie

sandie — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:56:45 +0000

I agree with you Brett, most likely BL will not get the maximum…..but I do believe he will get some prison time. There is also a little questionnaire form that the Judge figures out points on past crimes, driving records etc. There are sentencing guidelines in the State of Florida and therefore it is in black and white. We do live in a world where you can find out everything about anybody. The sites you have problems with people finding out personal information are public information. Nothing is private and personal anymore. The things you mentioned finding online is published in the newspaper as well. Maybe the State of Florida was not notified about BL’s suspended license but Billy Lane knew they were suspended. Most likely there was not communication between State’s but Lane did not have physical possession of his Fl. drivers license and he knew he did not submit to implied consent sobriety test. BL knew he had to go to court in North Carolina. No way will anyone convince me BL did not know his drivers license were suspended. Like DJ Chopper God said this accident could have happened if both BL and Mr. Morelock were sober. BL should not have been driving and nobody would be discussing this accident because it would not have happened if Lane called a limo. It is sad and everyone loses. It is too bad for all involved. Lane is a very smart guy as far as college degree and imagination for the choppers he builds and designs. As far as regard for the law………he had none.

By: Brett

Brett — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 01:52:10 +0000

It’s fine you believe the state will get a conviction. The problem is, I think you believe a conviction means he spends the rest of his life in prison. What if a conviction is 1 year in jail with good time, so he spends 6 months in jail??

The fact remains no matter where he spends the time, he isn’t going to prison for the rest of his life. The max in this case is 15 years. If he gets that max, which I doubt he will, then he is still in his 50’s. That means he has to do something with the rest of his life. My point was, all the people that think he needs to lose everything, then what do you do with him after he gets out???

Problems also arose with his “suspended” license. North Carolina didn’t report things to Florida. There wasn’t proper communication between the 2, so that could all work out oddly in this case.

That is where the problem lies because no one ever wants to asnwer that. There are alot of people who spend their lives going in & out of jail. The reason is because there is nothing for them once they get out.

Not only do I have a problem with the court system, I also have a problem with anyone being able to pay to have copies of any case they want. I have a problem with ther being internet sites that let you type in people’s names & find out if they are a felon or got a speeding ticket or filed for bankrupsy.

By: sandie

sandie — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:04:57 +0000

Brett: I think BL will get time in the state pen. I believe the court will consider the No. Car. case, Lane’s suspended drivers license and I doubt if any witnesses in those three cars BL tried to pass will ever forget what they saw that night Mr. Morelock died. I am with Rick, money can afford you the better than average lawyer. Gerry Spence probably the best trial lawyer in our time said in one of his books that justice is different for the poor and lost. Mr. Spence is 100% correct. I think the evidence will speak in this case and I fully expect the State of Florida to get a conviction. Florida has minimum and maximum sentencing guidelines that must be followed by the Judge. Mike said that there is so much paper in this case that it is unbelievable, he should know because he has had to pay for a lot of copies. One could write several books on our criminal court system. The courts are sad.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:13:26 +0000

My guess is as I said, when the 2nd lawyer came onboard, I believe they made a motion for a mistrial or something else to get this thrown out. I don’t remember for sure. After whatever they tried didn’t work out, then they asked for it to be moved back to give the new, 2nd lawyer a chance to get everything together that he needed. So my guess is the judge granted that motion.

I have said other places that if I was in Billy’s situation, I’d think I’d want think done & over with as quick as possible. Then I could get whatever sentence I was going to get & then move on with my life.

Others have said, no, what is going on should be what most people would hope for. Time has a way of making people, like witnesses, cops who filled out reports, etc. forget things. There have been many other accidents just like this in Florida since. While this is HUGE for the Morelocks & Lanes, to most in society, it isn’t. If it wasn’t for the internet, just about no one would know about this. So the longer it takes, presumably the better for Lane.

I disgaree with the person who says Billy should lose his business. That is the simple fact, Billy Lane faces 15 years max. I highly doubt he will get it, but no matter what, he will be out in the free world again at a point after his sentence is over. That is where most people do not offer up any ideas how to deal with people. There are a ton of people who are against the death penalty. Well that is why prisons are over populated. There is no program to get these guys jobs that can support them. So there are people who committ 1 crime. They find out after that 1 crime, there is nothing for them anymore & they committ another one & go back & it is just an endless cycle. If people really want to rehabilitate people in jail, 1st, felonies need to quit being tossed at people for every little thing. A bar fight is a felony if you don’t get the right lawyer. Then they also need to set up a program to get jobs for these people. Yes, people who do a crime, should do their time. However, if that time handed out isn’t a life sentence, then they shouldn’t have to pay the rest of their life for it.

That again is where Billy has an advantage. He went to school. He has skills to do many things. I am sure he will be ok when everything is said & done. Whether it’s his own business or not.

Oh well, I could go on & on for hours about everything I find wrong with our entire court system.