Tammy Sytch’s Sentencing for DUI Manslaughter Looms: A Look at Her Legal Troubles Over the Years

Former WWE star Tammy Sytch is set to face sentencing on Monday, November 27th, for a series of serious charges related to a fatal traffic incident that occurred in March 2022 in Ormond Beach, Florida. The incident resulted in the tragic death of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter. Sytch’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 AM.

In August, Sytch entered a plea of nolo contendere, which essentially means she accepted conviction as if she had pleaded guilty but did not admit fault or guilt. Among the charges she faces, the most severe is DUI Manslaughter, classified as a third-degree felony in Florida. For this charge alone, she could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, with a minimum of four years, and fines of up to $10,000. Additionally, she will also be sentenced on the charge of causing death while operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver’s license later in November, which carries a potential sentence of up to 10 and a half years. In total, she could be facing over 25 years in prison.

During the court hearing in August, Sytch revealed that she had been diagnosed with PTSD. Prosecutors have been pushing for a sentence of over 26 years in imprisonment. At the time of the accident, Sytch’s blood alcohol content was measured at .280, which is 3.5 times the legal limit of .08 as per Florida law. THC, indicating marijuana use, was also detected in her blood, and an unsealed bottle of vodka was found in her car.

Sytch is required to serve a minimum of four years in prison, and her public defenders plan to call one or possibly two experts to testify on her behalf during the upcoming sentencing hearing.

The Ormond Beach Police Department’s report on the incident from March 25, 2022, states that Sytch, who did not possess a valid driver’s license, was driving southbound on U.S. 1 just north of Granada Boulevard and failed to stop at 8:28 PM EST. Witnesses reported that her car was traveling at a high rate of speed before colliding with Lasseter’s stationary vehicle after Sytch failed to stop. Lasseter tragically passed away after being rushed to the hospital, while the occupants of the third vehicle involved suffered injuries to their necks, backs, sides, and heads but were not hospitalized.

Back in August 2022, Sytch waived her right to a speedy trial due to her criminal indigent status, indicating she couldn’t afford a lawyer for her criminal defense.

Before her arrest, Sytch publicly denied responsibility for the incident that led to Lasseter’s death. When questioned by a fan about the accident, she claimed she was slowing down for a red light and that Lasseter had suffered a heart attack unrelated to the crash.

Following her arrest in Florida, Sytch made statements on her Facebook account, warning that anyone saying anything negative about her would be blocked. She expressed frustration with those commenting on her situation without knowing the full story.

Sytch was arrested on May 6, 2022, and was released on bail several days later. However, the State of Florida deemed her a menace to the community and filed a motion requesting her remand back to jail without bond. During a hearing on May 13, 2022, officers testified about her extremely high blood alcohol level at the time of the accident and an open bottle of vodka in her car. The night before her arrest, she had been found intoxicated outside a bar and had to be taken to a hospital.

After Sytch was remanded back to jail in Florida, her bail bondsman expressed frustration with the court’s decision to grant bail in the first place, given the serious nature of the charges.

Florida State Attorney R.J. Larizza praised the decision to keep Sytch behind bars until her case is resolved, stating that a serious threat to the driving public had been removed.

Following a hearing on May 31, 2022, Sytch’s representative, Pente, acknowledged that she felt remorse for the situation and had apologized to the Lasseter/Hill family. Multiple civil suits are ongoing against Sytch related to the traffic incident.

The incident in March 2022 was the most recent in a series of legal issues involving Sytch. Earlier in the year, she had been arrested for allegedly threatening an intimate partner with scissors during a domestic dispute. She faced charges of illegally possessing a weapon (the scissors) and making terroristic threats. In that case, she was released from custody but was ordered to have regular check-ins with the court and to avoid possessing weapons.

Sytch had also faced legal problems in December 2021 during her vacation in Florida, although her arrest status during that time remains unclear.

These recent incidents continue a pattern of legal troubles for Sytch, including multiple arrests between 2015 and 2016 in Pennsylvania. These arrests involved charges related to DUI, driving without a license, reckless driving, and other offenses. In some instances, her blood alcohol content was significantly above the legal limit.

In August 2016, Sytch was sentenced to 97 days in prison but was released early after spending 60 days in rehab, with WWE covering the expenses. She was also placed on probation, ordered to undergo alcohol testing, complete community service, and pay fines. She was warned that any further legal issues could lead to consequences.

However, just 18 days into her probation, Sytch was arrested again in Northampton County, PA, for various offenses, including driving without a license. She faced additional fines and legal trouble during this time.

Sytch faced ongoing legal issues and parole violations, which resulted in multiple arrests and stints in jail or rehab. Her struggles with alcohol addiction and legal troubles persisted for several years, involving multiple DUI arrests and probation violations.

Sytch’s legal issues have spanned across different states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with arrests for DUI, parole violations, and various other charges.

Despite her previous fame and induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, Sytch’s life has been marred by a series of legal problems and personal challenges over the past decade. Her fall from grace stands in stark contrast to her earlier success as one of the original WWE Divas and a prominent figure in professional wrestling during the 1990s.