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Tammy "Sunny" Sytch will standing trial this fall, having been charged one count of DUI causing death (DUI Manslaughter, a felony in the third degree), one count of causing death while operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver’s license (a felony in the third degree), four counts of DUI causing injury to a person, and three counts of DUI causing damage to property following the March 2022 death of 75-year old Julian Lasseter during a traffic incident in Ormond Beach, Florida. The DUI Manslaughter charge is the most serious, as it is considered a felony in Florida and if she is convicted, Sytch could face up to 30 years in prison, with a four year minimum sentence as well as up to $10,000 in fines.
There is scheduled to be a sounding of the docket against Sytch on 8/16 at 1:30 PM.
Jury selection is set for 9/15.
Sytch's trial is slated for the week of 9/18 and is expected to take one week.
The Ormond Beach Police Department's report on the 3/25/22 incident stated 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. The report cited that two different witnesses to the crash reported Sytch's car traveling at a "high rate of speed" before crashing into Lasseter’s stopped vehicle after Sytch failed to stop. Lasseter then crashed into a third vehicle. Lasseter passed away after being rushed to the hospital. The driver and passengers of the third vehicle were not hospitalized but all complained of neck, back, side and head injuries.
Back in August 2022, Sytch waived her right to a speedy trial "arising out of the criminal episode made the subject of this prosecution; specifically, the right to be tried within 175 days of her being taken into custody as provided by law and Rule 3.191, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure." At the time, Sytch was given "criminal indigent status", meaning that since she is without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in her criminal case.
Depositions related to witnesses in the case, including those of law enforcement officers, are scheduled throughout the summer before the trial commences this Fall.
Prior to her arrest, Sytch publicly disavowed responsibility in the traffic incident that caused the death of Lasseter. When asked by a fan, "Question For You: How fast were you going when you slammed into the poor old guy stopped at a traffic light and killed him? His life ended for what reason? Were you on your way to a fire? or drunk? or high?"
Sytch responded, “"Hmmmabout 10 since I was slowing down to. Light. But he had a heart. Attack. Nothing to do with my seizure"
After being arrested in Florida, Sytch took to her Facebook account, writing "If ANYONE says ANYTHING negative about me, you will be blocked and NEVER unblocked. You don't know the real story so don't act like you're some f***ing journalist when all you do is type from your moms basement. Done."
Sytch was arrested on 5/6/22 and bonded out on $225,500 several days later. The State of Florida, alleging Sytch was a "menace to the community" filed a motion asking for Sytch to be remanded back to jail without bond as the case moved towards trial. During a hearing on 5/13/22, officers testified that at the time of the traffic fatality, Sytch's blood alcohol level was three and a half times over the legal limit and that an opened bottle of vodka was found in her vehicle. The night before Sytch was arrested, she was found intoxicated outside a bar and required to be taken to a hospital.
After Sytch was remanded back to jail in Florida, Pente commented on the court's decision to WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando, stating, "I think that this whole process. Everybody's been hurt, not just the family...they should have decided she was a threat to society before they granted a $225,000 bond and we pay $22,000."
Pente also told WESH TV that he felt "horrible for that guy's family" in regard to Lasseter but that the court should have made a decision before taking "$22,000 of my money” as the money Pente put up with the bail bondsman was not refundable.
Florida State Attorney R.J. Larizza from the Office of the State Attorney, Florida's 7th Circuit issued the following statement following Sytch's hearing:
"A deadly driver will reside behind bars until her case is resolved. A serious threat to the driving public has been removed."
Following the 5/31/22 hearing, Pente, spoke with The Daytona Beach News-Journal, stating Sytch, "...feels absolutely terrible. I can't emphasize it more. She just feels bad in general. Everybody's life's ruined." Pente also told the newspaper he had apologized to the Lasseter/Hill family.
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