‘Melrose Place’ Star Amy Locane Sentenced To 8 More Years In Prison For Fatal Car Crash

Melrose Place actress Amy Locane has been sentenced to eight more years in New Jersey State Prison for her role in a fatal car crash.

Locane’s blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit when the 2010 crash occurred, killing Helene Seeman, 60, and severely injuring her husband Fred.

According to a new New Jersey law, killing someone while driving under the influence qualifies as a strict liability vehicular homicide, which is punishable by three to five years in State Prison and a fine up to $15,000.

Locane was instead charged with aggravated manslaughter and assault by automobile, which should have given her a minimum five year sentence. She has served three years in prison for the conviction, but Montgomery Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed, who presided over her first case, has been criticized for leniency in his ruling. Locane was never indicted for drunk driving.

Locane’s attorney’s argument that the re-sentencing violates the fifth amendment, which has a clause stating one cannot be prosecuted twice for the same crime, was rejected. Locane has 45 days to appeal.