Actor Lane Garrison will accept responsibility for the death of a Beverly Hills high school student, his lawyer said as the television star was arraigned today on charges of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal car crash.
Garrison, who formerly starred in television's 'Prison Break,' faces a maximum of six years and eight months in prison if convicted.
Garrison, who allegedly was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine when his car slammed into a tree Dec. 2, declined to enter a not guilty plea in Beverly Hills Superior Court when he stood before Judge Elden S. Fox.
Fox asked Garrison if he wanted to plead not guilty.
'No, your honor,' said Garrison, 26, who appeared in court dressed in a brown pinstriped suit, dark purple tie and lavender shirt.
Defense attorney Harland Braun broke in: 'Mr. Garrison feels a deep sense of responsibility.... The real issue is the level of culpability.'
Braun said Garrison 'doesn't feel comfortable' with a not guilty plea.
'He is going to be accepting responsibility for his conduct; the only question is the level of responsibility,' the lawyer repeated.
Garrison posted $100,000 bail and was released. The formal arraignment was put over to April 11.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Joseph Markus had recommended a $200,000 bond, citing Garrison's potential danger to the community because of the drunk-driving charges.
Fox ordered Garrison to refrain from driving, drinking alcohol or going to bars or other establishments where alcohol is the chief item of sale.
Vahagn Setian, 17, who was riding in Garrison's SUV, was killed in the crash on South Beverly Drive. Two other passengers, 15-year-old girls, were injured when Garrison's vehicle struck a tree shortly before midnight.
'The Setian family is gratified by the criminal charges brought by the Los Angeles district attorney's office,' according to a statement issued by lawyer Paul Kiesel. 'They have lost their only child due to Lane Garrison's recklessness.'
Beverly Hills police said Garrison had a blood-alcohol level more than 2 1/2 times the state's legal limit of 0.08%, in addition to cocaine in his system. He was driving more than 40 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to police.
The district attorney's office rejected the recommendation by Beverly Hills police that a more serious charge of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence be filed. The additional charge would have doubled the prison term Garrison faced in the case.
Braun said county Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley did the right thing in charging manslaughter without gross negligence.
'It's a tribute to him,' said Braun, a noted criminal defense attorney. Evidence of Garrison's intoxication made standard manslaughter, a lesser offense, the right choice, he said.
DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said: 'After a full review of the evidence, we felt the charges we filed were appropriate charges.'
Garrison has a part in the film 'Shooter,' which is scheduled for release later this month. He has also appeared in the 2006 film 'Crazy,' and the 2005 ABC series 'Night Stalker,'
"Mr. Garrison feels a deep sense of responsibility.... The real issue is the level of culpability."
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