Lane Garrison on his prison hell after killing a teen when driving drunk (update)

Actor Lane Garrison, who was just released from prison, checks into a treatment facility in Los Angeles
Lane Garrison is the former Prison Break star who spent 11 months in prison after a teen passenger in his car died from a December, 2006 accident Lane had while driving drunk. Lane, 27, had just met the boy that night, along with two other teen passengers in the car, both of whom were injured in the crash. They were leaving a high school party to go out to buy more alcohol when Lane’s SUV jumped a curb and hit a tree, killing Vahagn Setian, 17. Lane was sentenced to 40 months in prison and he was released last April after serving a little over half of his sentence.

Now Lane is telling In Touch about what he went through in prison, including three weeks in solitary confinement. It sounds hellish, but Lane killed a young kid. He should know when to keep his damn mouth shut. Maybe taken in context with the rest of the article it’s not as bad as it sounds, because he does say “I will never forget what I did,” and it’s possible he admits that he had it coming.

“I was in solitary confinement for three weeks in a 104-degree cell infested with rats and roaches,” Lane tells In Touch exclusively.

After overcoming a tough childhood to pursue a promising acting career, Lane Garrison landed his first big role on the hit show Prison Break and was living the Hollywood dream. Then in one night, everything came crashing down. On December 2, 2006, after drinking too much at a party, he got behind the wheel of his car and hit a tree, killing one of his three passengers. “I will never forget what I did,” Lane tells In Touch in an exclusive interview. Although Lane only ended up serving 22 months behind bars, he endured the horrors of eight different prisons, starting with an LA county jail, where he was strip-searched and chained to a metal chair before being tossed into an area called “the snake pit.” “That was one of the roughest places. You’re in survival mode from sunup to sundown,” Lane says. He insists he was never physically assaulted — but the mental torture was traumatic for Lane. “In Chino prison in Northern California, I was in solitary confinement for three weeks in a 104-degree cell infested with rats and roaches,” he recalls. “The only time I had contact with the outside world was when I got my meals through a slot. I didn’t do anything to warrant solitary, but that’s just where they put me.”

For more of Lane’s exclusive interview, check out this week’s issue of In Touch, on newsstands tomorrow.

[From In Touch Weekly, received via e-mail]

I followed this case closely and I truly believe that Garrison was incredibly distraught and genuinely remorseful for what he did. He issued a tearful statement in court, he recorded a public service announcement admitting what he’d done, and he wrote a letter to the judge that was both heartfelt and really sad. I believe the guy will be affected by what he did for the rest of his life. His sister wrote a note, too, detailing their horrific childhood. None of that excuses what he did or gives him a pass to bitch and moan about jail, though. I know it was probably awful for him, but again he got out of there and now he’s free and alive. If he’s trying to earn some work by talking about what he went through it could backfire. As I said we’ll see, though, and it’s possible that In Touch is just excerpting the sensational part and that Garrison apologizes up and down in the rest of the interview. According to IMDB he has one film in development, which is the only listing for him since 2007.

Update: I read the full In Touch piece in and in the print article, Lane is much more contrite and makes several pretty grave statements both about what he did and how he understands that he deserved to go to jail. At the beginning Lane says “I will never forget what I did. I go to bed and wake up thinking of the pain I’ve caused.” After talking about some of his prison experiences, he sums up with “It’s prison. It’s supposed to be bad. I caused this by choosing to drink and drive. If talking about what happened to me prevents one person from drinking and driving, then this whole tragedy wouldn’t have been in vain.”

** Prison Break actor Lane Garrison looked in great shape as he jogged along a busy street in LA

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62 Responses to “Lane Garrison on his prison hell after killing a teen when driving drunk (update)”

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  1. GatsbyGal says:

    I hadn’t heard about this when it happened, so maybe this was explained – but why exactly was a 27 year old man at a high school party? And why was he driving them to go get more alcohol?

    I’m sorry, I have absolutely no sympathy for him or anyone else who complains about prison. Frankly, 11 months in the slammer sounds like a joke to me considering what he was responsible for.

  2. Poppycock says:

    He apparently didn’t even know where he was incarcerated. Chino prison no where near Northern California. It’s about 50 miles East of LA, in a place where they do not have 100+ degree temperatures for three weeks straight. Certainly there are a couple of days here or there that get that hot, but not for weeks on end. I find it hard to believe any of his other statements if he can’t get basic facts about his own incarceration correct.

  3. Icecat says:

    I followed this case closely as well. I totally agree with you! He really seems remorseful and I doubt he will never forget. I remember his PSA and let me tell you this – I will never forget the girl screaming in the background “You just killed my boyfriend, You just killed my boyfriend”. That still gives me the chills.. I don’t drink and drive anymore, but I used to when I was young and stupid… AND I thank my lucky stars everyday that nothing like that ever happened to me..

    DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE PEOPLE!!!!!

    He served his time, and although it dosen’t bring back the person, I wish him luck with the rest of his life…

  4. Iggles says:

    Snitches get stitches…

    No, seriously he needs to shut up. A kid died because of his actions. He shouldn’t be whining. He’s lucky he didn’t get 15 years for manslaughter.

  5. vale says:

    Um, it doesn’t sound like he’s whining. More like explaining. Most likely answering a question.

    I may need to mention that I think drinking and driving is one of the most disgusting things a person can do.

  6. Snarf says:

    I bet he was popular in there…

  7. meme says:

    I’m with Gatsby Gal. No sympathy whatsoever for this whining twit. YOU KILLED A KID, MORON.

  8. anon says:

    he’s really not going to get any sympathy by complaining about the conditions. i do believe that those conditions are terrible and should be addressed but he shouldn’t be the one talking about it. people will just resent it

  9. lucy2 says:

    I agree, anon. As much as I don’t care for the PR game, this would be one of those situations were someone should really advise him on what to say publicly.

  10. Dee says:

    I’m sure it was your friggn CHILD that was MURDERED you wouldnt be so happy about the 11 months !!

  11. kaligula says:

    i totally disagree. who would you rather be, the one killed or the killer? it’s a difficult question, but when i contemplate this dilemma i always conclude that it is more difficult to be the victimizer than the victim. they have a much, much more difficult karma to bear. and it’s really funny to hear people talk about ‘disgusting’ things that people do…. it’s such an ironic and deluded statement that it’s not worthy of close analysis, though it is loaded with things to analyze. let he who has not sinned cast the first stone, people. i mean, are we still living in the dark ages? i can’t believe the callousness of these comments.

  12. princess pea says:

    I honestly believe that the greatest punishment is the one he got instantly. He will know for the rest of his life that someone died directly because of his actions. That will hurt forever.

    He went to jail and then was asked about it. I understand that some people don’t like to forgive celebs of anything, but this is the legal system, folks. He paid his debt to society, and he will bear the emotional scars of that night forever.

    I hate drunk drivers, but only if they don’t learn. Like IceCat, though, it’s important to remember that people DO learn, and change, and turn out awesome.

    (Dee, unless it WAS your child, please don’t toss around “murder” like that. By definition, murder is intentional. Garrison was stupid, but he didn’t set out to kill that boy.)

  13. mistral says:

    I don’t think there is anything wrong with him telling how horrific his prison experience was. That could be a reality check for some people. As for his experiences–of course the mind will play tricks on you. Big deal if it wasn’t actually THAT hot, it might have felt that way to him. I feel he is remorseful, and I hope it never happens to anyone else. (the getting killed/killing someone because of drinking driving)

  14. v says:

    Chino does get 100+ degree days all the time. I’m born and raised southern california, it’s hot pretty much everywhere there, especially inland (Chino). I don’t think he’s exaggerating that part.
    You know, people have a real easy time pointing their fingers and looking down your noses and all, but how many of you haven’t made a mistake? Lucky for you your mistakes never cost someone their life and weren’t publicized.
    It’s tragic that someone died because this guy used poor judgment, but he’s human and flawed like all of us are and he’s paying every day for his mistake. he’s not a cold hearted murderer, not a murderer at all, so i’m sure this eats at him all day every day.
    Dee, an accident is not the same as MURDER. Murder is defined as killing someone with malice and aforethought, neither of those things were present here.

  15. GatsbyGal says:

    @v – “You know, people have a real easy time pointing their fingers and looking down your noses and all, but how many of you haven’t made a mistake?”

    You know what my most serious mistake in life has been so far? That one time I didn’t pay my electric bill on time and most of the food in my fridge and freezer got ruined before the power could be turned back on.

    This guy drove drunk to take some teenagers to go buy booze. That’s not “a mistake.”

  16. Meanie says:

    Doesn’t sound like he’s whining about prison. It appears he’s being direct about his experience so others don’t f. up and go the way he did.

  17. Cakes says:

    I dont think hes whining. I think hes being straight forward about his experience.

  18. Me says:

    I feel bad for the victim and bad for Lane. What he did was irresponsible, but that doesn’t make him a bad person. He’ll be paying for this in ways we can’t imagine for the rest of his life. Leave him alone.

  19. Caz says:

    Why was his picking these school boys up in his car anyway? Kind of ironic how he was in a TV show about prison and ended up in one.

  20. wtf says:

    Uhmmm I’m with the first post. What was he doing with a bunch of teenagers? It says he’s 27.

  21. v says:

    @gatsbygal
    Sorry everyone isn’t as perfect as you.

  22. Kevin says:

    Seconded #21.Self righteous taint.

  23. Layla says:

    11 months is RIDICULOUS! If any of you think 11 months is enough, you deserve the bullshit that’s coming to you. Because it will certainly be coming to you.

  24. JM says:

    Duh, of course the magazine is just excerpting the sensational parts of the story. That’s what gossip rags do.

  25. Kelaa Khaa says:

    I recall an obit I read about this guy who was driving home from work and a drunk driver ran a red light and killed him. He had just met a new girlfriend and loved Christmas. It seems like LG is just trying to get sympathy publicity to regain his acting career which he should not get back. He should have served more time, and he did commit murder through negligence.

  26. Cali ma says:

    Chino is NOT in Northern Cali, it is near Pomona, Phillips Ranch, and Covina right in Southern Cali… da mn~

  27. mike says:

    Actually, if anything, he probably got screwed over because he was a celebrity AND because he opened his big fat mouth. Here’s a tip to you all potential lawbreakers: Acting contrite will get you NOWHERE most of the time. Frankly, it’s a waste of time. Of course, acting smug’s not gonna get you anywhere either, but all this crying and saying sorry to the family and the judge is not gonna help you get reduced sentencing.

    Unless he had prior criminal record, he could have gotten lower sentence (yeah he killed a kid, but it was an accident), but he didn’t. Back when I was growing up, this drunk idiot ran over a child and got 2 years, of which I’m sure he didn’t serve the whole time. It was his first time, he was white, middle-class, and had a good lawyer. From what I’ve read in the newspaper at the time, his type of sentencing for the first time offender was hardly unique.

    Like it or not, fame is a double-edged sword. There are literally hundreds of DAs out there willing to score points by looking tough on celebrity crimes and showing the working man that even the famous has to face the music.

  28. bitsofmoxy says:

    I took from this article – someone really giving a point of view of what its like to be in prison a way from everything you know – to pay back to society as much as one can. Makes me want to keep my nose clean. I have volunteered with a group who helps troubled youth/minor law breakers and a lot of them had impressions that prison was just a place that wasn’t miserable. A place where you can lay on a cot and do nothing – they had no fear of it. Thankfully the group I volunteered with helped change those opinions with an outlook like Lane’s. Don’t get me wrong, I do not condone what Lane did.

  29. Seth says:

    He needs to go the hell away and shut the EFF up!!!

    Uhhh… how about 17 YEARS with rats for what he did!! The judge was an idiot.

  30. Mary Jones says:

    He didnt murder someone. He drove drunk and had an accident. Haven’t we all learned not to get in a car with someone whos been drinking. Even high school kids know that. If u get in a car with someone whos been drinking u are taking your chances.

  31. oh hey says:

    So if the person is famous, they’re NOT sorry for what they did, no matter what they/their publicist says?

    I’m not implying that he’s isn’t in the wrong, and I’m surprised he got such a short sentence, but there’s two types of apologies, those who truly are sorry, and those who are sorry for getting caught. I wonder how you would feel if someone felt your apology was the latter.

  32. oh hey says:

    GastbyGirl. How irresponsible! You do realize that millions of Americans are going hungry, especially in the economy, yet you’re late on electric bill and spoil food that could have fed a family in food bank.

    It’s unfair that so many people, especially children are hungry right now, yet you still get to eat.

  33. GatsbyGal says:

    @Oh Hey – It wouldn’t have fed a family in a food bank, it was supposed to feed ME! I was the one who got screwed. And don’t even start to lecture me, I donate $5 to the food bank every single time I go grocery shopping.

    @v – This isn’t about being perfect or not being perfect, it’s about not being stupid enough to drive drunk with kids in the car! That’s NOT a mistake! That’s a BAD DECISION. He DECIDED to drink and then drive. He is the reason that boy is dead.

  34. Therethere says:

    Prisoners deserve human rights as well, don’t forget. Subjecting them to solitary confinement, arbitrary personal invasions, violence and poor living conditions drastically reduces their chances of rehabilitation.
    And, while it is true that a person killed by a drunk driver can never be returned , that driver CAN be rehabilitated. They may be remorseful, they can change their habits and ways, they can then, in turn, give back to society and be loving, safe, tax-paying ppl.
    Baying for blood is not justice, and it is not productive.

  35. timayy says:

    gatsbygal
    so you’ve done absolutely nothing worse than not pay your refrigerator bill? wow you must be a SAINT. no wonder you’re on here criticizing absolutely everyone because you see so many faults in them but you’re scott clean. i bet anything if you killed someone drunk driving, you’d be spending loads on a lawyer to get a less sentence. you’d probably tell your friends it was under the influence and try to garner their sympathy in some way. you’re the biggest hypocrite ive seen.

  36. fizXgirl314 says:

    wow, I’m in complete shock… People showed more outrage toward drug addicts than they are toward a guy who killed someone irresponsibly.. 11 months? really? shouldn’t he get that JUST for driving a underaged kid to get alcohol? So in the same respect, why aren’t you all forgiving the hogans? Michael Vick? Lindsay Lohan for chrissake? and all she’s done is be self destructive… so does this mean that we should allow people’s conscience to be their just punished because “they must be going through a lot”… feeling sorry for him? Seriously, I’m disturbed. why is it that the hogans get so much wrath? is it because you haven’t seen the crumpled bleeding picture of this kid’s dead body? and did somebody actually just say it would be worse to be the survivor in this case? THAT’S INSANE… are you people not understanding the concept of death!?

  37. fizXgirl314 says:

    *pinching self* am I in the fucking twilight zone? are you all seriously justifying killing someone while drunk driving by chalking it up to a mistake? you do realize there is a reason why drunk driving is illegal and accidents are NOT.

  38. Zebra Hat says:

    Wow, it appears we have a lot of drunk drivers here! That’s the only thing that could explain why so many of you are defending this retard. This asshole KILLED SOMEONE and only got 22 months behind bars, yet people caught with some weed often get mandatory 5-10 year sentences! Child rapists, murderers and drunk driving morons like this loser all seem to get slaps on the wrist, but God forbid you be in possession of a PLANT, because you’ll be locked up for years! I know this isn’t about that, but in a way it really is. The “justice system” is extremely broken when killers (accidental or not) who buy minors alcohol and drive drunk serve 22 months in prison, while people who have never hurt anyone get 5-10 years. So go ahead and drive drunk, kill someone, molest kids, but don’t you DARE have a bag of weed on you! Ridiculous.

    And no I have never drove drunk in my life, just in case anyone was wondering.

  39. isabelle says:

    Why was he driving around with teenagers?

  40. NicoleAM says:

    Just a comment, but what is the big deal about solitary confinement? I totally understand if you knew you were gonne be in there for years, but three lousy weeks? Paris Hilton and Nick Hogan yapped about the same thing. Don’t know much about the case, but I just always find that odd. (Maybe I don’t get it ’cause I looove quiet time by myself 😉 )

  41. NicoleAM says:

    For the record, I am against long term solitary confinement and better treatment of inmates regardless of their crimes.

  42. Ruby Red Lips says:

    Some people’s comments astound me, about what he did, by stating that he only made a mistake drink driving and killing someone – COME ON!!!

    WTF – he killed someone by drink driving – that is not a mistake, that is taking someone’s life!

    It disturbs me the amount of drink driving that happens in the US, and even more disturbing is the flippant attitude of some of the posters here who seem to think its not such a big deal – Disgusting!

  43. Istanem says:

    For every decision you make, you take responsbility for your actions and live with the consequences of it. He deserves whatever he gets. Saying that what about the 17 year old kid that got in the car with a drunk driver? You don’t get in a car when the person has been drinking. Full stop. No ifs or buts. You just don’t do it.

  44. Ruby Red Lips says:

    @ Istenem – so now its the 17 year old’s fault!!!! WTF!

    Your mentality makes me sick

  45. GatsbyGal says:

    Timayy – Don’t presume to know what I’d do. I’d never even have to be in that situation because I’m not fucking stupid enough to get behind the wheel of a car after I’ve been drinking. I can’t believe you and everyone else commenting here who seems to be almost defending him!

  46. Laney says:

    I don’t think anyone is blaming the 17-year old, but that’s something I never understood about this quest for vengeance people have when someone drinks and drives and kills a passenger. It’s tragic and terrible, and some sort of punishment is obviously appropriate. But that person DID get in a car with a drunk person. If Garrison had killed someone in another car, I think the punishment would have (and should have) been much worse. But the deceased did get in a car with a drunk driver. He wasn’t a child with no ability to say no, he was 17 and wanted to go.

    It reminds me of a 20/20 or Dateline, one of those, episode where two college friends went clubbing and they both got wasted. They drove home and the driver got in an accident, killing her best friend. The woman got something like 4 years, which I thought was insane. They were best friends and BOTH drunk…the situation could have very easily been reversed, and the other woman could have been driving. They were both irresponsible in this situation.

  47. Slymm27 says:

    @Gatsby, men, u r so self righteous! What a saint! Miss perfect. U have done nothing worse than be late in payin d bill. Just keep telling that to urself. U just dont sound nice in any way

  48. timayy says:

    seriously, gatsbygal shoves her mouth eveywhere all over this website.
    im surprised at how much time you spend here just criticizing everyone else. you know, lets come clean. those who put down others just have a hard life. you must have a really sad one.

  49. naye in VA says:

    @ this whole @Gatsbygirl situation

    Its so sad that people dont have the heart to forgive.

    That doesnt mean what he did was right. he KNEW he was getting behind the wheel drunk and he KNEW that is was illegal. he probable didnt THINK he was gonna be harmful. Which is sad because this is why there are so many drunk driving deaths. Its a criminal act that can be totally avoided and saved a lot of people a lot of pain.

    that being said. we have ALL done things we knew we shouldnt do becuase we didnt seriously consider the consequences. Saying what he did was a mistake is not a way of vindicating him. Its a way of allowing for forgiveness to take place.

    Its good for him to talk about it if it means another person wont make the same MISTAKE of getting behind the wheel

    mistake- an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc

  50. Slymm27 says:

    @Naye, true, saying what he did was a mistake, is just a way of allowing for forgiveness! It amazes me how people like Gatsby act like they r so perfect have done nothing.

  51. v says:

    i never said what he did was ok. i just said that from our end of things, the anonymous interwebz opinion end, it’s easy to judge. i’m sure nothing you or i or anyone could say is any worse than what this guy says to himself every single day. we assume because he made a bad decision that he has no regard for the consequences of his actions. we think he must be a terrible heartless human being to be able to be so irresponsible and we wish he had been damned to prison for years and years. but in reality he’s probably normal guy who fucked up in a huge way and he served his time whether you agree it was enough or not. and i agree that the kids involved here definitely knew better than to get in the car with someone who’s drunk. i’ve been out of school for 10 years, but even back then we had it POUNDED into our skulls every single year about the dangers of drunk driving. they even dressed kids up like accident victims and staged accidents out in front of our school. my own father died because he decided to drink and drive. so it’s not like i’m just talking out of my ass here.

  52. Outsider says:

    My mom was killed by a drunk driver, she was 16, I was 2 ( yes she had me young ).

    She was on her way home from a football game at her high school when her car was hit.

    I have never in my life driven drunk, in fact I don’t drink anymore at all.

    To the person who killed my mother, I wish for them to learn from there mistakes and use their life they still have to talk to others about what they did, and the importance of never driving drunk, cause things that “would never happen to me” do. I never wished jail time on this person their punishment was living with that night for the rest of their lives. I do wish however, that they devote their life they are lucky enough to have to stop someone else from losing a love one to a drunk driver.

    In my mind and sure others will not agree, I would rather the jail time be spent in treatment, so it doesn’t happen again, and public service. Talking to teens, reckless adults, putting a face to this never could happen to me events. Anything that could lead to someone thinking back to that speech they gave and not driving drunk and potentially saving a life.

    The above only applies IF the person is remorseful, and first time offender. Which in my experience the person was. Otherwise yes to jail and throwing away the key.

    I wish the same for Lane Garrison, and hope the family and friends of the victim can find closure.

  53. karen says:

    not that it’s not bad enough what he did, but why is the cocaine curiously missing from the story? makes him less “everyman” and more demonized, which he deserves.

  54. Lukie says:

    @outsider: I applaud you and I am sorry for your loss.

    I am glad someone else pointed out that someone chose to enter the car of someone that was drunk. a 17 year old is not a 7 year old. They should know better.

    11 months in jail vs. remembering what you did for the rest of your life. I would up the anty and say they should have to put a dollar everyday in a jar with the words “I am sorry” on it and send it some where, like M.A.D.D or something, for a period of time as well….

  55. crash2GO2 says:

    @Outsider: I echo the previous words of sympathy for your loss, and thank you for being a voice of reason here.

  56. Slymm27 says:

    @ karen, get over it! Really getting into the car with a drunk driver equals stupid. You are responsible for your life. That said, what Lane did waz terrible, but he has served his time, nd hopefully he has learnt his lesson.

  57. Legend says:

    “I hadn’t heard about this when it happened, so maybe this was explained – but why exactly was a 27 year old man at a high school party? And why was he driving them to go get more alcohol?”

    Ding, ding! Yes, and the other two passengers were teenage girls. I’m sure his motives were honorable.

  58. paranel says:

    He got off too easy. He killed a 17 year old boy. Killing while drunk driving to me does not qualify as manslaughter and should be treated way more serious.

  59. gen says:

    Do you know what contrite means? Cause that didn’t sound contrite, he sounded more like honest & humble.
    Also……DAMN he looks way skinny in that first pic!

  60. abby says:

    I’m confused… did he serve 11 or 22 months? I’m thinking 22 because he was sentenced to 40 months and it said he was released after serving a little more than half.

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  62. kmg says:

    I work at a prison and trust me the low life’s don’t have it that bad. Still wondering why he was at a party with kids. And why did he have underage girls in car. Perv shoulda got a lot more than 11 months. Pot dealers get more tine for selling than he got for killing a kid. Like the comment earlier bet if it was your kid you’d see it different.