Billy Lane Trial Tentatively Set For December.

During a pretrial conference hearing Tuesday in Viera, Florida Circuit Judge Meryl Allawas designated the trial as a “priority” for her Dec. 1-12 trial docket, with the understanding that it may have to be canceled if defense attorney Greg Eisenmenger or the state’s witnesses cannot move existing schedule conflicts. Police said Lane’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he crossed a double yellow line to pass several cars near Melbourne Beach, striking Morelock’s motor scooter head-on. Eisenmenger and Assistant State Attorney Tom Brown said they expect Lane’s trial to last up to two weeks, and that they anticipate pre-trial publicity could result in a lengthy jury selection process. Under Florida State Laws Lane, 38, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on one count of DUI manslaughter in connection with a Labor Day 2006 traffic accident in which 56-year-old Sebastian Inlet park ranger Gerald Morelock died. (I remind everybody that I will not make any personal comments other than the ones I wrote October 4, 2006 and that you can read again here). 

Update 11/21/08: The trial was tentatively rescheduled for Feb. 9, 2009 before Circuit Judge Robert Burger.

46 Responses to “Billy Lane Trial Tentatively Set For December.”


  1. 1 harry Nov 19th, 2008 at 11:16 am

    However this situation ends up, it won’t be good. Not for Billy, not for Gerry Morelock’s family. NO ONE. There are no winners in this, if Billy Lane is convicted of his crimes and goes to prison, then so be it, then he does his time in Prison and pays his debt to society. If he doesn’t do any prison time, then he will have to deal with this for the rest of his days. If he is like any other civil and decent human being out there w/ a consience, and this will haunt him until he can find some peace. May God be with Gerald Morelock’s family and friends at this time, along w/ Billy cause harder times are coming for both.

  2. 2 Jeff Nicklus Nov 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    Harry,

    Well said!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  3. 3 John T Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    Is Billy still in business working in his shop in Florida?

  4. 4 Phillip Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    His shop is closed since a long time. He is doing a little bit of work, alone, in another place belonging to a 3rd party.

  5. 5 John T Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    I just wondered because it looks like the website is still up and running http://www.choppersinc.com/

    Like the one poster said, its bad for EVERYBODY. Billy seemed to be getting famous a la OCC, but he blew it by doing something stupid that I’m sure he regrets.

  6. 6 Phillip Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    A website is digital, not brick & mortar. He is doing online parts business. Logical.

  7. 7 Greg Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    The civil lawsuit being settled, I hope for minimum punishment & community service. Anything else will be a loss of time for a talented builder. Would not help anything, Billy or the victim’s family..

  8. 8 Kicker Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    I support Billy.

  9. 9 Sam Nov 19th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    let me show you whats wrong with all of this crap, look on this very page, how many damn adds are there wanting to help you get off for being an ass, so you can go and keep doing it till you kill someone.

  10. 10 John T Nov 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    Sam, could you explain that a little bit more? Not sure what you mean.

  11. 11 Sam Nov 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    I count 8 adds for lawyers to held you get off for DUI!!!

  12. 12 John T Nov 19th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Oh, thats just because he has code in here that detects discussion of DUI in the original post, and then goggle is smart enough to display ads for that. It is ironic though.

  13. 13 Dave T Nov 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    Sam, if you had not mentioned it, I would not have even noticed.

    As far as the trial, I’ve met Billy a few times and I agree with Harry and Cyril. Hopefully Billy has learned a lesson from all this and the Morelock family can find peace.

  14. 14 Egofried Nov 19th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    The civil lawsuit (settlement) was covered by Chrysler’s insurance company. What’s that got to do with whether or not he’s paid for the criminal aspect of his behavior. And, his old location may be closed, but he continues to show his face at rallies with his merch truck indicating to me he’s still in business. Truth be told, he most likely closed his shop due to the irritation caused by sightseers asking countless questions about the “accident”. If you look at his site, his ego is intact enough to post up his “chopper diaries” video journaling his cross country exploits. Doesn’t seem too contrite to me. I can’t believe the number of people who continue to kiss his inflated ass. The general attitude of the majority of the motorcycle industry defending this asshole really makes me ask a lot of questions about what it represents.

  15. 15 John Rothen Nov 20th, 2008 at 8:30 am

    I believe Harry said it best when he discussed “finding his peace”. Everyone out here who is condemning him for what he did and thinks that if he gets no jail time – he skates free. This could not be further from the truth. Unless you have killed (war or civilly), held someone as they die in your arms you absolutely have no idea what he is battling with. I have been in both situations. Putting him in jail does not solve anything and is not a PAYMENT of any kind. The family has forgiven him why can’t we? I did not know him personally but have seen him recently around friends at a Duffy’s in West Palm Beach for a showing of Pink’s including 2 shops he is friends with. He seems like he is a changed man from what most knew of him before. What is done is done now and from this point further lets support Billy in anyway he needs to regain a productive spot in our society.

  16. 16 BigHand Nov 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am

    Hey Egofried ,
    Why don’t you leave the majority of the motorcycle industry out of this ? Remember Egofried…when your minding someone else business, your NOT minding your own.

    BigHand

  17. 17 dragracer1 Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    I agree with Harry no winners here, hopefully the family will accept the verdict and everyone can get on wtih the healing and their lives

  18. 18 Knucklehead Nov 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    Egofried , The man still has to make a living. Grow up.

  19. 19 John Rothen Nov 20th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    The family has already made it known that they forgive him. It is his own conscious and law he has to worry about now.

  20. 20 Gar Nov 20th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    The family forgave Billy the minute the check cleared the bank!

    Gar Out

  21. 21 Mike Nov 20th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    Dude, Gar, that’s a really horible thing to say! No amount of money could take away the loss of a child. Do you have any kids? How would you like someone to say that about your family?

    As for Billy, he is an American who wrongfully killed someone, he should do some time. The amount is up to the judge and no one else.

  22. 22 Gar Nov 20th, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Mike,

    I am a retired attorney and former Federal Prosecutor, among other things. While my comments seem on the surface to be a horribly cruel thing to say it, in most cases, the statement is accurate.

    I have watched it over and over again with countless cases. Yes, no doubt, there is a terrible loss and tremendous pain in the family of the lost one. While you are correct that no amount of money could replace a loved one the money does seem to work as a tool of closure to the family. I literally had a family give an audible sigh of relief once a settlement check was agreed to and handed to the family. That my friend makes you feel good to know that you have helped in some small way.

    Yes, I do have children and I pray to God that neither I nor my family should ever have to go through what the family of the deceased in this case has had to endure.

    As for the guilt, innocence or possible punishment of Billy Lane, that is up to a court of law.

    Gar Out

  23. 23 J Nov 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    …”retired attorney and former Federal Prosecutor”?

    Not with that grammar, dude.

    J In.

  24. 24 Gar Nov 20th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    Keep it simple stupid is my motto.

    Gar Out

  25. 25 IowaHarleyGirl Nov 21st, 2008 at 12:40 am

    We all make mistakes so we should try not to judge. I think of all the times I made the not so wise decision of driving while intoxicated and realizing how damn lucky I always was. After the trail is all over and he gets whatever he gets, let the guy move on from this and make his way back to being what he really is…an Amazing Chopper Artist!

  26. 26 Brett Nov 21st, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    Well, there is still a civil case with the passenger of Billy’s truck. She decided to try to make it rich & this is after she had pictures of herself on her Myspace in Florida clubs just days after the accident. Problem is, I’m sure close to 3 years of paying lawyers probably has Billy tapped out of cash. Then with the state of the auto makers in this country currently, not sure she will have any cash to get.

    I do support Billy. I have met him many many times. While he is outspoken, he is not some egomaniac many try to claim. He was very humble every time I met him. While many want to vilify him for this, & I understand why, to me this is more like what if your brother or best friend was in Billy’s shoes?

    However, I do feel it’s time for the trial to finally happen & be over with. I think the judge should listen to the Morelocks & the fact they have more then forgiven Billy. They have even met, according to reports I have read on other sites, about coming up with something positive out of this.

    Now, where the courts have a big failing, if they choose to imprison Billy for 15 years, what is the plan for him after that? He would be in his mid 50’s when he got out. What they hell is he going to do then? Unless there is a huge change in the bike industry by then, not sure how much need there would be for a 55 year old bike builder.

    That is the main problem with our prison system. Either people get out & there are no programs to help them become a contributing member of society, so they end up back in prison because they do crimes to make money, or they get out & are at an age where no one wants to hire them because they are considered old & have a record.

    Man, the whole Biker TV thing…..we lost Indian Larry, Billy Lane may end up spending the better part of the rest of his life in prison & Jesse James has one lawsuit after another with people suing him. Who would have ever thought the Teutel clowns would be the ones left standing??? I was hoping they’d be the 1st to fall.

  27. 27 Mike Greenwald Nov 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 am

    Scheduling problems have forced the delay of celebrity motorcycle builder Billy Lane’s DUI manslaughter trial until next year, his attorney said.

    During a hearing today in Viera, Circuit Judge Meryl Allawas “reluctantly” canceled the December trial after the defense and state’s witnesses were unable to move existing schedule conflicts, lawyer Greg Eisenmenger said.

    Trials are typically scheduled months in advance to avoid such scheduling problems, Assistant State Attorney Tom Brown said last week. The trial was tentatively rescheduled for Feb. 9 before Circuit Judge Robert Burger, who will take over Allawas’ court docket when she leaves the bench in January, Eisenmenger said.

    Attorneys said they expect Lane’s trial to last up to two weeks, and that they anticipate pre-trial publicity could result in a lengthy jury selection process.

  28. 28 madpuppy Nov 24th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Gar. being a retired attorney and former Federal Prosecutor, maybe you can tell some of the posters on here the difference with being. a “Joe Blow” being sued and a “Joe Blow” that is a Corporation that is being sued ! Not about the jail time ,but about the money aspect of it all. I`m sure Billy will be just fine when the dust settles. JMO.

  29. 29 jeff & Robbie Nov 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Boring comments… let him pay with jail time like any Joe Blow would,

  30. 30 Gar Nov 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    madpuppy,

    Wow, thanks for the question! No short answer here!

    I am not familiar with the Civil Statutes in the State of Florida and considering this accident did not take place on a Federal Reservation no Federal Civil Statutes will apply herein.

    A very, very short answer is as follows:

    For the sake of argument let us assume that “Joe Blow” (JB) as an individual was involved in an automobile accident that he was later determined to be at fault in. As a result of that accident one person in the car JB was driving was seriously injured and one person, not riding in JB’s vehicle, was fatally injured. (I will not address any Wrongful Death Litigation herein) Let us further assume that JB owns shares in a corporation know as “Joe Blows Corporation” (JBC). The accident occurred while JB was driving a vehicle, on loan to JB & JBC from one of JBC’s corporate sponsors, however JB was not acting in a corporate capacity at the time of the accident.

    From a personal stand point should JB be found liable in the personal injury complaint and should any monitory damages be assessed against him it is likely that his personal auto insurance company will be liable to pay those damages up to and including his policy limits. Should the damages exceed the policy limits, and JB does not have any other insurance protection, JB will be responsible for the additional dollars and will either have to write a check for the balance or face collection activities. Collecting those additional damages could, and usually is, quite a challenge. The corporate shares of stock JB owns will be something that could be taken in a collection effort. However, as I have said there are so many variables with the law and the laws differ greatly from state to state.

    JB’s insurance company will likely have been involved with the claim from the “Personal Injury Complainant” (PIC) from the onset and therefore will have been involved in the negotiations with PIC from the onset. With that said let us assume that PICs attorneys notified JB’s insurance company that PIC would be willing to accept the Policy Limits of JB’s policy as a settlement. (let us further assume that PIC can prove up the personal injury damages that would equate to the policy limits). JB’s insurance company refuses PIC offer to settle for the limits. PIC’s attorney will at that time do what is known as “Stowerized” the insurance company. Basically a layman’s definition of this: PIC’s attorney is placing the insurance company on notice that they are not acting in good faith and that unless the policy limits are paid within a 30 day period, litigation will be filed. Should the Defendant (JB) later be found liable for the accident in a court of law and the jury awards more than the limits of the insurance policy to PIC in damages the insurance company could be liable for the entire damage award no matter the limits of the policy.

    Does that help any? Please remember that this is strictly a hypothetical situation and outcome scenario. Nothing herein is consider to have any relationship to Mr. Billy Lane or his legal situation. Many, many other factors play into the situation here and nothing I say here should be considered legal advice.

    Further, before any of you legal eagles out there start busting my chops please know that I have simplified my explanation to the lowest common denomators.

    Gar Out

  31. 31 madpuppy Nov 25th, 2008 at 9:33 am

    Thank you Gar, Indeed there are many variables here, and I agree with you. And some of the differences are the types of incorporation ! As I am not the company, and the company is not me so who you going to sue? I appreciate your time Gar, have a Great day.

  32. 32 Gar Nov 25th, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    madpuppy,

    You are welcome!

    To All Else,

    I am off today for our annual trip to our “Winter Home’ in the islands. You will all have to do without me until March of next year. It is time to recharge the batteries w/ No cell phones, TV’s, Computers or numb nuts neighbors for the next 90 days =/- ! Therefore, with that said, I wish each of you a Happy Turkey Day, a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holiday Season to be politically correct) and a Great New Years.

    I shall return!

    Gar Out

  33. 33 just my opinion Nov 25th, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    I have been riding bikes for about fourty years now and have seen many times situations where someone was drunk and had hit and killed a biker in a so called cage or automobile. The responce to that situation has always been that the driver of the cage should get jail time, so it is funny to me when I see this case where we already know billy was drunk twice the legal limit and he did kill a biker. Although his fans want to say the deceiced was on a moped or small bike so he really does not qualify as a real biker so it is ok that he was killed by their Idle Bad BOY Billy Lane. Wake up billy made the decition to drink just as he had many other times in his quest to be the ultimate bad boy biker so that you idiots could idleize him. He should get the same treatment you would dish out to any other driver that did the same crime. I have seen some of you write that the family has forgiven him so I guess because they are decient people he should be allowed to go free and do this to another family. If so, if or when this happens to one of your family members remember it ok to get drunk and kill a biker after all we are worth nothing more than the insurance check. Now I am sure he is basically a nice guy and he is a star in the motorcycle world but if he is guilty he should pay the same as any other person would. Just my opinion

  34. 34 Joe Dec 1st, 2008 at 9:07 pm

    Hi i’m a male in my 20’s a mechanic, and billy has been an idle of mine along with indian larry, i think that he has screwed up we all know and agree on that i think but to put him in jail for a long period of time would be a waist of his talent and life. i mean our prisons are full more seriouse violators of the law, such as rapists and REAL muders. should billy be punished yes but lets do it with comunity service such as going to schools and talking to young adults about the consequences of the decision to drink and drive i think he knows. and then instead of ruining 2 lives we turn a negative into a positive

  35. 35 Gutterat Dec 1st, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    The winner is Billy lane He gets to keep on making turds while the other guy decomposes. What a joke our legal system has become 2 years before a drunk killer goes to trail what a joke the lawyers have made of this land.

    Billy is going to be a white OJ, no time at all in jail I say 90 days maybe. When you got money and fame you don’t need a consience you can buy one. What a joke. There are no accedents just collisions. Five dollars says he gets poped again for dui before the trail : Well maybe not. He more than likly has a driver while he passes out in the back seat.

    Morelock can’t drink a beer because he’s dead, he can’t drive a car because he’s dead ,he can’t talk because he’s dead ,He can’t enjoy the sun on his face because he’s dead , He can’t look at the stars because he’s dead , He can’t walk down the street because he’s dead . Hell he can’t even spend the rest of his life in a 12 x 12 x 8 room with someone to talk to and make friends with because he’s dead. Get it

  36. 36 MDK Dec 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    The legal system needs to hold people accountable for their actions and stop slappnig them on the wrist!. He needs to do hard time along with all the others who because they can’t seem to follow the rules laid down by the law and have cost someone their life along with their loved one’s pain and suffering over the loss. In this case as with many others the law needs to be swift as is a relatively clear cut case that he’s guilty.

  37. 37 bobberking Dec 17th, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    we support billy

    this can hapen to everyone of us and i dont think jail is a good thing

  38. 38 StevG Dec 27th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    I think Harry really summed this whole thing up really well. Both families have to deal with broken hearts, and Billy is at the center of all this. Hopefully, Billy Lane will come out of this ok but he’s going to be a changed man. Taking someones life they way Billy did is a heavy burden. Maybe he’ll dedicate part of his life to DUI education along with getting back to building bikes…that’s the best that can come out of this tragedy.

  39. 39 Gutterat Jan 6th, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Heres a guy who has the world by the balls . He can get anything he wants a new truck that he can beat the hell out of take it back and get a new one. A good looking woman or lots of good looking women, has money. Well known on TV and in the world as one of the best in the business . Made a choice to go out and do some drinking and get in a truck and start driving. Here comes another guy on a small motor bike just comming home from work or the store or hell even a bar just minding his own business thinking about things as he rides home relaxes a little. No one knows who he is, he is not famous he is not rich, more than likly never will be. Just riding his little yamaha on his way home tops the hill and dies. He is gone Not there the next day.
    Billy made this choice the man he killed did not choose to die. Time heals all wounds but this guy won’t be healed just forgotten like he is right freaken now (Gerald Morelock ). OH billy will have to live with this the rest of his life, so so sad billy sitting there making all his money. Screw that put the asshole in jail and toss the key like any one else.

  40. 40 Objective Observer Jan 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Prepare for another onslaught of angry comments from alcoholics defending their drunk “bro”.

  41. 41 no justice Jan 16th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    You are wrong about one thing, bobberking. This can only happen to someone stupid enough to drive drunk. I got hit by a drunk 21 year old back in 96 while I was walking in a parking lot. He did 6 months in jail, and got to go home. I still walk with a limp and always will. Where is the justice in that?

  42. 42 Eglide Jan 21st, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    He drank, he killed. Everyone’s loss. Get the message?

  43. 43 DREAMACATCHER Jan 27th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    EVERYBODY IS SO CRITICAL! HOW MANY OF YOU JOKERS OUT THERE WHO PASS JUDGMENT ON BILLY HAVE DONE THE EXACT SAME THING, BUT JUST GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT. HAVE YOU SEEN THE CASE IN OCALA, WHERE BILLY NICHOLS HIT AND KILLED TWO WOMEN (NURSES ON THEIR WAY TO WORK), AND GOT OFF BECAUSE OF “GASTRIC DELAYED EMPTYING”! BULL. HE WAS DRUNK THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, AND KILLED MY BEST FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER. DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. HE TRIED TO GET OFF, HE RAN, HE HID, SPENT EXTRA-ORDINARY AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO GET LAWYERS TO BLAME IT ON THE ROAD, HIS “SPECIAL” STOMACH PROBLEM, HIS TRUCK WITH BIG TIRES. BUT WHEN IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO IT, HE IS WALKING ON THE STREETS NOW BECAUSE HIS AND HIS PARENTS MONEY BOUGHT THE JUDGE. READ THE PAPERS FROM LAST YEAR. IT’S ALL THERE. BILLY HAS ADMITTED TO WHAT HE DID, IS READY TO TAKE WHATEVER COMES. HE IS MAN ENOUGH TO STEP UP. I FEEL PROBATION, GOING TO SCHOOLS AND GIVING SPEECHES TO KIDS WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL THAN JUST SITTING IN SOME JAIL, WHERE HE WOULD NOT DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD. I HAVE KNOWN BILLY BEFORE AND AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND HIS WHOLE ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I THINK WHAT HE HAS TO LIVE WITH IT ENOUGH PUNISHMENT FOR HIM. AND I THINK THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE DEALT WITH A SITUATION SIMILAR TO HIS, YOU SHOULD KEEP YOU MOUTH SHUT AND NOT PASS JUDGMENT ON SOMETHING YOU CAN’T POSSIBLY FEEL. I LOST TWO FRIENDS TO A DRUNK DRIVER, BUT SITUATION DIFFERENT, BILLY IS A BETTER PERSON FOR IT, NOT AN “***” LIKE BILLY NICHOLS, WHO STATED WHEN HE HEARD THE VERDICT “NOT GUILTY” THAT HE COULD NOW GET ON WITH HIS LIFE, NO APOLOGY TO THE HUSBAND AND FATHER OF THE PEOPLE HE KILLED. SO SHUT UP!!!! BILLY, WE SUPPORT YOU AND GOD BLESS,

  44. 44 Gutterrat Jan 29th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    WOW look at all those capital letters. So what you are saying is that since Billy Nichols got off killing two people Billy Lane should too , but there’s only one problem Lane is one short. Don’t you think you are doing the same thing to the people who are condemning and judging Lane are you not condemning and judging them too? There is only one thing wrong with that they have not killed anyone while driving drunk. If Mr. Lane has admitted to driving drunk Why is he going to trial? Why has he not stepped up and plead guilty?
    Most every one knows some who has been killed or injured by a drunk driver that’s the problem. He had drunk driving charges dismissed in North Carolina because the cop didn’t want to draw his blood when he refused to take a breath test. Don’t you think that was a clue? As for him doing probation or civic duties.
    BULL. PUT HIM IN JAIL THIS WILL GET A DRUNK OFF THE ROAD AND HE WON’T KILL ANY ONE ELSE FOR A WHILE!!!!! Just cause he chopped his hair off and put a suit on to cover his tats for court don’t mean he has changed. Don’t you think you might want to God Bless to Gerald Morelock and family he’s the one that’s dead.

  45. 45 Materialman Feb 27th, 2009 at 10:11 am

    If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. Surely we have all heard that before. I don’t care if your Billy Lane, bike builder celebrity, or Joe Smith that picks up trash for a living, if you drive drunk and kill someone, you go to prison. We can say it “won’t do any good” to put Billy in prison, but I guess we could say that about every criminal in prison, couldn’t we? Prison will give him time to reflect on what has happened and maybe make some positive changes in his life when he gets out.

  46. 46 Hippie May 26th, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Best wishes to the Morelock Family. As far as Billy, he is a great builder, just as OJ was a great football player and thtas how I choose to think of them, the courts will do what the courts will do, half of us will cheer the other half will be pissed and the next day it will be business as usual.
    I put on a 3 day rally in Oregon, Billy along with others autographed a leather jacket to be given away, Why Billy? Cause he is a awesome builder. Should he go to jail? I probably would if I were in the same shoes…..but, some cold blooded murders have done less then 7 years. He sould do some time, then be allowed to get back to work, just like I probably would if I were in his shoes.

    Take Care Billy, Thanks for the autograph.
    R.I.P. Mr. Morelock.

    Hippie

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Cyril Huze