Zachery Ty Bryan was sentenced to 19 months in prison by an Oregon judge after admitting to three probation violations on March 20
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Bryan has faced multiple legal issues in recent years, including a DUI, for which he is currently serving time in a California jail
His lawyer tells PEOPLE that Bryan "was abused and exploited as a child and has had resulting difficulties"
Zachery Ty Bryanhas been sentenced to 19 months in prison by an Oregon judge.
On Friday, March 20, theHome Improvementalum, 44, who is currentlyserving time behind bars in a California jail, appeared virtually for his sentencing in Lane County, Ore., after previouslyadmitting to three probation violationsduring a Dec. 29 hearing, perKEZI.
His attorney, John Kolego, tells PEOPLE he is "extremely disappointed" with the sentencing result, given Bryan is already serving a 16-month sentence in California.
"Mr. Bryan needs help. He had a very traumatic childhood and he was abused and exploited as a child and has had resulting difficulties, but sending him to prison is really not the appropriate fix for this situation," Kolego says. "What he needs is help."
Bryan's relationship with his fiancée,Johnnie Faye Cartwright, whowas also arrested on Nov. 29in Oregon, is "toxic," Kolego says. "It was a toxic relationship that he's been navigating, and he'd been drinking, but he doesn't deserve to go to prison for 19 months, so I was extremely disappointed."
During his virtual court appearance, Bryan "said that he was sorry in front of the court, that he realized that he had an alcohol problem, that he was going to do everything that he could to deal with that problem so that he could be the best kind of father he knows for his children, that he has seven children that he loves very much," Kolego says.
After he completes his sentence in California, he will be extradited to Oklahoma, where he is facing "up to five years" in prison, Kolego says, related toan October 2024 DUI arrest— his second that year.
Kolego says Bryan is "basically in solitary confinement" in California right now and is being "isolated from the general population" due to his childhood fame.
"He's remorseful. He never wanted to be in trouble. He wants to be a decent, law-abiding citizen, and the best father he knows how [to be], but he's dealing with inner demons, and has been coping with alcohol."
Kolego adds: "His goal is to be the best kind of father he knows for his children and to get out and make a living and take care of his family."
According to aFacebookpost on Dec. 1 from the Lane County Sheriff's Office, police were called to a report of reckless endangering when they found Bryan, Cartwright and their three children in a pickup truck near a popular Oregon campsite.
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"They were driving together in the area," the LCSO alleged. "At some point Bryan got out of the pickup truck and began walking on Big Fall Creek Road. Cartwright then attempted to run over Bryan, crashing the truck with the children inside into the ditch. Bryan was able to move out of the way and avoid injury. No one inside the pickup was injured."
"Deputies interviewed Bryan and Cartwright. Deputies observed signs both were impaired," the LCSO statement claimed. "Deputies also interviewed witnesses contacted on scene. Per a court order from a prior case, Bryan was not supposed to be in contact with Cartwright."
"After additional investigation, Cartwright was arrested for Attempted Assault in the 1st Degree, three counts of Recklessly Endangering, and DUI. Bryan was arrested for a probation violation on an original charge of assault in the fourth degree. The involved children were placed with a family member," the post concluded.
Bryan was initially denied bail and given an "end of sentence date" of Dec. 3. However, he was later transferred to Lane County Community Corrections on a "detainer" before beingreleasedon Dec. 10. At his Dec. 3arraignment, Bryan denied the charges.
Cartwright was arraigned andpleaded not guiltyto one count of driving under the influence, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and three counts of reckless driving. She was later sentenced to 30 days of incarceration with time served, eight days of community service and two years of probation, according to records obtained by PEOPLE.
Bryan was initially scheduled to be sentenced earlier this month, but on Monday, Feb. 23, he was sentenced to serve over 14 months in jail after he struck a deal in the case for his 2024arrestin La Quinta, Calif., for felony DUI and a misdemeanor for alleged contempt of court.
He pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and also admitted to an enhancement related to having two prior DUI convictions, per court records.
In 2021, Bryanpled guiltyto two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence after being accused of strangling a woman. In 2023, hepled guiltyto fourth degree felony assault.
In January 2025, Bryan facedallegations of second-degree domestic violencefrom Myrtle Beach police in South Carolina. In a police report obtained by PEOPLE, the arresting officer said a woman, who was reported to be Cartwright, "stated that she was assaulted" by Bryan and the two "live together and have children in common."
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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