WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch has suffered a setback in her latest attempt to overturn her conviction and prison sentence stemming from a fatal DUI crash in Florida in 2022.
Sytch recently filed a motion seeking to have her conviction and sentence vacated, arguing that her previous legal representation failed to adequately investigate evidence surrounding the death of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter.
As part of her challenge, Sytch questioned whether Lasseter’s pre-existing medical conditions may have contributed to his death. She also raised concerns about an alleged potential conflict of interest involving a prosecutor and the physician who pronounced Lasseter dead.
However, on October 21, Volusia County Circuit Court Judge Christian Miller dismissed the motion as “facially insufficient,” ruling that it failed to satisfy the necessary procedural requirements. Among the deficiencies was the absence of a mandatory sworn statement.
The ruling represents a setback for Sytch’s legal challenge, although the dismissal on procedural grounds does not, by itself, resolve the merits of the allegations raised in her motion.
Judge Miller also warned Sytch about the potential consequences of successfully overturning her original plea agreement. While she is currently serving a sentence of 17 years and six months, reopening the case could expose her to a longer prison term if she were subsequently convicted.
According to the court’s warning, Sytch could potentially face up to 26 years in prison, significantly more than the sentence she originally received.
Sytch was sentenced in November 2023 after entering a no-contest plea to charges arising from the March 2022 crash in Ormond Beach, Florida, which resulted in Lasseter’s death.
The former WWE personality remains incarcerated at Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida. Her current projected release date is listed as December 2038.
Sytch, who rose to prominence during WWE’s New Generation Era and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, has remained behind bars since her sentencing as she continues to pursue legal avenues challenging her conviction.
