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Some updates on the civil lawsuit filed against WWE Hall of Famer Tammy "Sunny" Sytch and her boyfriend James F. Pente on 4/12 before the Circuit Court of the Sevenths Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida by the estate of Julian L. Lasseter, the man who was killed in the three car traffic incident on 3/25 in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Sytch filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on 6/2, arguing that Lasseter's daughter Whitney Hill did not have the legal ability to bring the lawsuit against Sytch as Hill had not been "properly appointed" as a representative for Lasseter, and thus there was no proof she had "the legal ability under Florida Statute § 768.20" to bring the lawsuit against Sytch.
The next day, 6/3, Hill's legal team filed a response, arguing that previous rulings by Florida's Supreme Court would support that Hill would fall under being a properly appointed representative for Lasseter. The Court has yet to rule on the motion to dismiss.
While the two sides await a ruling, Hill has moved forward, seeking the following from Pente and Sytch as they begin collecting evidence:
-All written, typed, printed or recorded statements given by the Defendant or any other persons that witnessed the motor vehicle collision alleged in Plaintiff's.
-All photographs, slides, negatives, video tapes, movies or drawings depicting any of the motor vehicles involved in the motor vehicle collision alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint including their condition prior to, after and as a result of said collision.
-All photographs, slides, negatives, video tapes, movies or drawings depicting the scene of the motor vehicle collision alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint or which the Defendant, her representatives, agents or attorneys, believe fairly portrays the accident scene at or about the time of said motor vehicle collision.
-A complete and certified copy of all liability insurance policies, including declaration sheets and any riders/endorsements/amendments thereto, providing coverage to the Defendant or to the driver(s) of the Defendant's motor vehicle involved in the motor vehicle collision alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint.
-A copy of the Certificate of Title or any other indices of ownership of the vehicle identified as a 2012 white Mercedes Benz with Vehicle Identification Number (WDDKK7DF1CF148594).
- Any and all receipts reflecting purchases made by Defendant Sytch on March 25, 2022.
-A download of all social media content identified in your response to Interrogatory 13 of Plaintiff's First Interrogatories to Defendant Sytch. This request is limited in scope and requests content from March 1, 2022 through the Present.
-All photographs of Defendant with the 2012 white Mercedes Benz, Vehicle Identification Number (WDDKK7DF1CF148594).
Hill's attorneys also requested Sytch respond to the following inquiries regarding the civil lawsuit:
What is the name and address of the person answering these interrogatories, and, if applicable, the person's official position or relationship with Defendant Sytch?
List all former names and when you were known by those names. State all addresses where you have lived for the past ten years, the dates you lived at each address, your social security number, and your date of birth.
Describe any and all policies of insurance which you contend cover or may cover you for the allegations set forth in Plaintiffs Complaint, detailing as to such policies: the name of the insurer, number of the policy, the effective dates of the policy, the available limits of liability, and the name and address of the custodian of the policy, including but not limited to any umbrella or excess coverage.
Describe in detail how the incident described in Plaintiff's Complaint happened, including all actions taken by you to prevent the incident.
Describe in detail each act or omission on the part of any party to this lawsuit that you contend constituted negligence that was a contributing legal cause of the incident in question.
State the facts upon which you rely for each affirmative defense in your answer.
Do you contend any person or entity other than you is, or may be, liable in whole or part for the claims asserted against you in this lawsuit? If so, state the full name and address of each such person or entity, the legal basis for your contention, the facts or evidence upon which your contention is based, and whether or not you have notified each such person or entity of your contention.
List the names and addresses of all persons who are believed or known by you, your agents or attorneys to have any knowledge concerning any of the issues in this lawsuit; and specify the subject matter about which the witness has knowledge.
List the name and address of all persons, corporations or entities who were registered title owners or who had ownership interest in, or right to control, the motor vehicle that you were driving at the time of the incident described in Plaintiff's Complaint, and describe both the nature of the ownership interest or right to control the vehicle, and the vehicle itself, including the make, model, year and vehicle identification number.
Describe in detail your whereabouts, to include, but not be limited to, any restaurants, bars, or stores that sell alcoholic beverages, for the 24 hours prior to the motor vehicle accident on March 25, 2022.
Did you use any credit and/or debit cards in the 24 hours prior to the motor vehicle accident on March 25, 2022 to purchase alcoholic beverages of any kind? If so, please list the institution that issued that credit and/or debit card.
Please state in detail where you were coming from at the time of the accident on March 25, 2022 and where you were attempting to go.
Identify any and all social/professional networking websites that you are currently registered with (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.). If such registration exists, please provide the associated social media handle with the account.
The following questions were posed to Pente to respond to as part of the same process:
What is the name and address of the person answering these interrogatories, and, if applicable, the person's official position or relationship with Defendant Pente?
Describe any and all policies of insurance which you contend cover or may cover you for the allegations set forth in Plaintiffs Complaint, detailing as to such policies: the name of the insurer, number of the policy, the effective dates of the policy, the available limits of liability, and the name and address of the custodian of the policy, including but not limited to any umbrella or excess coverage.
List all former names and when you were known by those names. State all addresses where you have lived for the past ten years, the dates you lived at each address, your social security number, and your date of birth.
Have you ever been convicted of a crime, other than any juvenile adjudication, which under the law under which you were convicted was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year, or that involved dishonesty or a false statement regardless of the punishment? If so, state as to each conviction the specific crime, the date and the place of conviction.
To your knowledge, describe in detail how the incident described in Plaintiff's Complaint happened, as well as your understanding of where Tamara Sytch was coming from and going to at the time of the incident.
Describe in detail each act or omission on the part of any party to this lawsuit that you contend constituted negligence that was a contributing legal cause of the incident in question. State the facts upon which you rely for each affirmative defense in your answer.
Do you contend any person or entity other than you is, or may be, liable in whole or part for the claims asserted against you in this lawsuit? If so, state the full name and address of each such person or entity, the legal basis for your contention, the facts or evidence upon which your contention is based, and whether or not you have notified each such person or entity of your contention.
List the names and addresses of all persons who are believed or known by you, your agents or attorneys to have any knowledge concerning any of the issues in this lawsuit; and specify the subject matter about which the witness has knowledge.
Have you heard or do you know about any statement or remark made by or on behalf of any party to this lawsuit, other than yourself, concerning any issue in this lawsuit? If so, state the name and address of each person who made the statement or statements, the name and address of each person who heard it, and the date, time, place and substance of each statement.
Have you made an agreement with anyone that would limit that party's liability to anyone for any of the damages sued upon in this case? If so, state the terms of the agreement and the parties to it?
Did you give authority, through either express or implied consent, allowing Tamara Sytch to operate your motor vehicle involved in the incident described in Plaintiff's Complaint?
Describe in detail your ownership interest of the vehicle that Tamara Sytch was driving at the time of the accident, including the date you purchased the vehicle, date of sale (if applicable), and the purchase price and sale price of the same.
Describe in detail your interactions with Tamara Sytch for the 12 hours prior to the incident on March 25, 2022.
Identify any and all social/professional networking websites that Defendant is currently registered with (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.). If such registration exists, please provide the associated social media handle with the account.
Describe in detail how you became aware that Tamara Sytch had been involved in a motor vehicle accident on March 25, 2022, to include any statements made to you by Tamara Sytch.
Describe in detail your whereabouts, to include but not be limited to, any restaurants, bars, or stores that sell alcoholic beverages, for the 12 hours prior to the motor vehicle accident on March 25, 2022.
The Ormond Beach Police Department's report on the 3/25 incident stated that Sytch (who does 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.
The lawsuit, seeking in "excess" of $100,000 in damages, states:
“Upon information and belief, on or about March 25, 2022, Defendant SYTCH was intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle owned by Defendant PENTE southbound on N. Yonge Street, at or near the intersection of W. Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
Defendant SYTCH operated the motor vehicle with the consent, either express or implied, of Defendant PENTE.
On or about March 25, 2022, Julian L. Lasseter was also operating a motor vehicle southbound on N. Yonge Street, at or near the intersection of W. Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
At the time and place referenced in paragraphs 6 and 8 above, Defendant SYTCH negligently operated or maintained her motor vehicle so that it collided with the rear end of Julian L. Lasseter's motor vehicle, causing severe and incapacitating injuries to Mr. Lasseter. These injuries resulted in his death on March 25, 2022.”
The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Sytch, that Pente is "vicariously liable" for Sytch's actions by virtue of allowing her behind the wheel of his vehicle, that the Lasseter family has sustained medical and funeral expenses due to Sytch's actions and that Lasseter's adult daughter has "has suffered, and will suffer into the future, the loss of her father's companionship, instruction, guidance, and mental pain and suffering as a result of her father's death."
Beyond the motion to dismiss, Sytch has not responded to the lawsuit. Pente previously responded on 5/23, denying any negligence on his part and demanding that Lasseter's estate bring forth "strict proof" for that claim, denying he was responsible for Tammy Sytch’s actions, that he is liable for the incident and as you might expect, denies all of the allegations brought against him.
Pente also laid out twelve potential defenses from the lawsuit, including:
*That Lasseter himself was “negligent and that his negligence would bar recovery; or, in the alternative, the decedent was negligent and that his negligence was a contributing cause of this accident and any award to Plaintiff should be reduced in accordance with the principles of comparative negligence.”
*That Pente is not responsible for any third-party involved in the incident (which would appear to be open to interpretation as to whether that third-party includes Tammy Sytch), nothing, “Defendant asserts that the Plaintiffs damages, if any, were proximately caused and/or contributed by the fault of third parties, named or unnamed, over whom this Defendant has no custody or control and therefore, this Defendant should be liable, if at all, only for his proportionate share of liability, pursuant to Florida Statutes § 768.81(3), Messmer v. Teachers Ins. Co., 588 So.2d 610 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991) and as further supported in Fabre v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Company,623 So.2d 1182 (Fla. 1993). However, at this time, such nonparties or persons are unknown to this Defendant. Pursuant to Nash v. Wells Famo,678 So.2d 1262 (Fla. 1996) this Defendant will seek amendment to identify such nonparties or persons as soon as practicable."
*That Lasseter’s death was not caused by the incident, citing, “Defendant asserts that the Plaintiff's claimed injury or damage were a result of a pre-existing medical condition and was unrelated to any act or omission of Defendant. “
*That Lasseter was not wearing a seat belt while driving, citing, “Defendant asserts the decedent failed to use an available and operational seat-belt or other safety equipment.”
*That the incident did not cause any new injuries to Lasseter, citing, “Defendant asserts that the incident alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint did not cause the Plaintiff's new injuries and/or aggravate any pre-existing conditions. Defendant reserves the right to raise such additional affirmative defenses as may be established during discovery and by the evidence in this case.”
*That the incident was caused “by an independent and/or intervening cause.”
While police records from the incident list Pente as the owner of the car Sytch was driving on 3/25, Pente denied in his response to the lawsuit the car was under his ownership, citing, “Defendant asserts he was not the owner and/or on the title of the subject vehicle and/or or he had only bare naked title at the time of the accident, so he is not vicariously liable for any alleged negligent acts or omissions of Tamara L. Sytch. “
Pente asked for a jury trial, that the court provide him with any damages it sees fit from the plaintiff for bringing the lawsuit against him and “reserves the right to raise such additional affirmative defenses as may be established during discovery and by the evidence in this case.”
Sytch is currently facing nine charges in Florida stemming from the death of Lasseter this past March, including with 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. She plead not guilty on 5/31.
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 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, 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. Described as Sytch's fiance in a WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando story on Sytch being jailed, Pente commented, "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 hearing, Pente, spoke with The Daytona Beach News-Journal after the hearing and stated 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 has apologized to the Lasseter/Hill family.
With Sytch remanded to a Florida jail for the foreseeable future, her existing charges before Keansburg Municipal Court in New Jersey are in stasis. For that case, Sytch is facing eleven different charges, including Operating under the influence of liquor or drug, Driving after Driver’s License/Registration suspended/revoked, Careless Driving - likely to endanger person or property, Reckless Driving, Failure to wear seat equipment - responsibility of driver, Driving without a license, Failure to possess a driver's license, Failure to possess driving registration, Failure to possess an insurance card, Failure to install interlock or drive a car without an interlock, and Operating a motor vehicle during a license suspension - second violation. She was arrested on 2/24 and the belief is that New Jersey will wait for the Florida proceedings to unfold before moving forward, but that’s not 100% locked in stone. She missed her 5/26 hearing due to being incarcerated in Florida.
Beyond those charges, Sytch is also facing charges of allegedly threatening to kill an "intimate partner" while raising a pair of scissors "in the air towards the victim" during a domestic dispute that led to an arrest on 1/13, also in New Jersey, fo. The police report for Sytch's January arrest stated that she did this in clear view of a police officer who witnessed the incident. The arrest report also stated that Sytch "appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol" during the altercation. Her "intimate partner" was not injured. In that incident, Sytch was charged with two charges of illegally possessing a weapon (the scissors) and one charge of terroristic threats, listed as "occurring during a state of emergency." She was released from Monmouth County Correctional on 1/14 after a hearing where she was ordered to have weekly check-ins with the court and that she not possess any weapons. Her 5/26 hearing would have also covered these charges.
It is unknown whether Pente was the “intimate partner” listed in that case, but his relationship with Sytch would have covered that time period.
Sytch's January arrest in New Jersey was preceded by additional issues in December 2021 in Florida, where Sytch was on vacation to celebrate her 49th birthday, according to postings on her Facebook page. After online records indicated she had been arrested in the Sunshine State, Daytona Beach Police confirmed to PWInsider.com at the time that their officers indeed had several contacts with Sytch on Saturday 12/18/21, the first being a call related to an alleged domestic violence incident and the second being a check into her well being. Neither contact resulted in an arrest, but Volusia County Corrections in Florida did, at one point, list Sytch as being booked into their facility on Saturday 12/18 at 11:14 PM Eastern and then being released the following day, Sunday 2/19 at 3:45 PM Eastern. However, the Daytona Beach Police Department stated to PWInsider.com that Sytch was never, ever arrested and that they have no arrest report in their records related to either of the aforementioned contacts. Video of one interaction with police dated 12/27/21 was later released publicly with an officer suggesting Sytch get sober and get away from her boyfriend, James Pente, after she called and requested Pente be removed from her hotel room after going into his pants looking for a Xanax and instead finding what the officer believed to be crystal meth. In the interaction, Sytch did not remember previously meeting the officer, who had recently brought her to a hospital, noting that when she gets "black out drunk" she doesn't remember anything:
Within a week of returning to New Jersey in January, Sytch was arrested on 1/13.
The 2022 incidents and arrests have continued a pattern of legal issues for Sytch stemming from numerous arrests over the last decade across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Sytch’s legal issues in Pennsylvania stemmed from four different arrests between 2015 and 2016:
*On 5/30/15, Sytch was stopped by Mahoning Township, PA police after being seen driving erratically into a Wal-Mart parking lot. Testing showed she had a 0.25 percent Blood-Alcohol level at the time of her arrest.
*On 6/1/15, Sytch was pulled over after her car crossed the solid center yellow line several times, then entered oncoming traffic on Interchange Road in Lehighton, PA. Sytch was unable to provide proof of insurance or a driver’s license and was identified only after authorities checked records. Trooper Jonathan Lazarchick of the Pennsylvania State Police reported that her eyes were bloodshot and glassy and that Sytch smelled like alcohol. Authorities discovered an open bottle of Coors Light in the passenger side of the vehicle as well as another eleven unopened. The open cap of the Coors Light was on the floor of her passenger's side. Sytch claimed she had been drinking the night before, was driving to pick up milk and eggs and when asked to get out of the vehicle, staggered, had problems with her balance and needed to lean on her car to maintain her balance. Her blood-alcohol content was 0.3 percent.
*On 6/20/15, Sytch crashed her car into a ditch in Towamensing Township at 10:40 PM, claiming to the responding authorities that her GPS had told her to make a "sudden turn", which caused her to turn wide and end up in the ditch. Sytch told authorities that she was unable to back the car back out. Cpl. Shawn Noonan of the Pennsylvania State Police observed the odor of alcohol and bloodshot eyes. He requested Sytch take a field sobriety test, but she claimed to be "in too much pain due to her recently blacking out and falling down the steps." She was placed under arrest for DUI and was given a breathalyzer test back at police barracks. The results of that test were 0.078 percent.
Sytch would later claim on social media, in response to PWInsider.com's reporting of 6/20/15 arrest, that she was not arrested for DUI when she crashed her car because she had a "seizure." However, Sytch pleaded guilty to DUI in all three cases, as well as one count of driving without a license. The court dismissed the lesser charges in each case as part of the guilty plea.
During a July 2016 interview with Bill Apter, Sytch stated that she agreed to the guilty plea because she was "blackout drunk" during what she termed the worst relapse of her life. Sytch told Apter she legitimately could not remember anything from the Pennsylvania arrests. Since she could not testify in court about what happened and knowing the police had video footage of her in an inebriated state, Sytch stated a decision was made to plead guilty as part of an agreement. In the interview with Apter, Sytch had praised Carbon County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania Judge Joseph T. Matika for being so lenient with her and allowing her to do the time in rehab as opposed to potential jail time.
On 8/18/16, Judge Matika sentenced Sytch to 97 days in prison, giving her credit for 95 days spent in rehab. The final 60 days were paid for by World Wrestling Entertainment, who had reversed a previous stance that cut her off from assistance via their Wellness Policy after Sytch criticized the choice of rehab facilities WWE had chosen to send her, on their dime, in a DVD interview. Sytch was also given two days' credit for two days spent in jail.
At the time, Sytch was also sentenced to five years of probation, including a required bi-weekly alcohol testing, 125 hours of community service and $2,100 in fines. Sytch was released without spending a day in prison but was warned by Judge Matika that if she got into trouble at any point during her five-year probation, there would be consequences.
Just 18 days into that five year probationary period, Sytch was arrested in Northampton County, PA. In that case, she plead guilty to driving without a license, driving an unregistered vehicle, operating a vehicle without required financial responsibility (no insurance), displaying plate card in improper vehicle (license plates placed on a car to which they didn't belong), operating a vehicle without valid inspection, and driving without Evidence of an Emission Inspection, which is required in State of PA. Sytch was also fined $1,496.45 as part of an agreement that saw Prosecutors drop the most severe charge against her, receiving stolen property. Prosecutors in that case also opted to drop a charge of fraudulent use or removal of registered licensed plates as part of the agreement.
Sytch was rushed from her then-home in Palmerton, PA to Palmerton Hospital on 9/12/16. That day, she was charged with possession of alcohol as well as being under the influence of alcohol - both of which violated the zero tolerance of her probation.
On her Facebook page at the time, Sytch referred to her hospitalization as being related to her pancreas. In Sytch's autobiography A Star Shattered, which was released in February 2016, Sytch wrote that past health issues involving pancreatitis were brought on by her heavy drinking and nearly led to her death in a previous incident. In the book, Sytch wrote that she had been warned by doctors that if she did not stop, it would lead to her death.
Sytch announced via social media that she had been released from the hospital on 9/20/16. Police sources in Palmerton, PA later confirmed to PWInsider.com that just three days later, 9/23/16, Sytch was once again transported to Palmerton Hospital after authorities were called to her home. Court records cite that on that date, Sytch was again charged with being under influence of alcohol, a third violation of the zero-tolerance policy of her probation August 2016 probation. Shortly thereafter, Sytch was taken into custody (apparently from the hospital) and incarcerated at Carbon County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania.
It was less than six weeks after her five-year probation began.
Sytch remained incarcerated for five months before being paroled in February 2017 after she agreeing to, once again, attend a WWE-financed rehab. Upon her release, Sytch was ordered to directly report to an in-patient drug rehab located in Hanover, PA, to successfully complete the program and then complete any after-care recommendations. Sytch was also ordered to report to the Carbon County Probation Office upon completion of the program and to perform an additional 75 hours of community service. At this point, she was now ordered to perform a total of 200 hours of community service.
According to court records, Sytch was informed at the time of her February 2017 parole that the court would have a "zero-tolerance" threshold for the possession, control and consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or non-prescribed medication and as well as "zero-tolerance" for any missed urine screens without a legitimate excuse. Sytch was also warned that a failure to adhere to the Judge's order would result in a petition to revoke her parole.
It appeared to be the beginning of the end of this chapter of Sytch's life.
It wasn't.
Just a little over six months later on 8/22/17, a petition was filed requesting that Judge Matika revoke Sytch's parole. He did. A bench warrant for Sytch's arrest was issued the following day, but officials had been unable to serve the warrant and apprehend Sytch as she was no longer in Pennsylvania.
Instead, Sytch was now residing in New Jersey, where the arrests continued.
Sytch was charged with DUI on 1/23/18 at 8:53 PM. She was later charged with DUI and Leaving the Scene of an Accident following a 2/2/18 incident where she was in a car accident at 8:52 AM, allegedly fleeing the scene of the accident. When she failed to appear in court to regarding those two DUI arrests, she was arrested in New Jersey again and charged with multiple charges of Contempt - Disobedience/resistance.
While she was being processed for those charged, New Jersey authorities learned that Sytch was a fugitive from justice due to the bench warrant out of her arrest in Pennsylvania stemming from her February 2017 parole being revoked. At the same time, Sytch had been making independent bookings and autograph signing appearances all over the United States prior, including, incredibly a signing in Philadelphia, PA in January 2018, just a 90 minute drive from Carbon County, where a warrant was out for her arrest.
Sytch was transported back to Carbon County Correctional Facility. In March 2018, an order was issued by Judge Matika to remove Sytch from Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program, a pre-trial diversion program for individuals with limited or no prior criminal record who are carefully screened by District Attorney's office for admission. This was a program designed to be rehabilitative, as opposed to punishing, in its focus towards defendants.
Sytch remained incarcerated at Carbon County until 10/09/18, where she was again released under probation and agreed to the terms of a payment plan towards financial restitution to the State.
Sytch returned to New Jersey, but just a little over four months later, was again arrested. On Saturday 2/23/19, Sytch was pulled over at 6:30 PM on Dupont Avenue in Seaside Heights. In that incident, Sytch was arrested for driving while intoxicated, the sixth known time since 2015 Sytch had been arrested for such an offense. That evening, Sytch was also given a summons for having an open alcohol container in a motor vehicle, for consumption of alcohol in a Motor Vehicle, reckless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, driving with a suspended driver’s license, and careless driving.
Sytch was released by the Seaside Heights Police Department, but was then immediately placed into the custody of the Holmdel Police Department as she now had outstanding warrants and fines in the jurisdictions of the Holmdel, NJ Police Department ($1,500) and Knowlton, NJ Police Department ($1,000) stemming from her January and February 2018 arrests in the Garden State. Sytch was now charged with Contempt of court - Disobedience/Resistance of Court Command in relation to each of those warrants.
Sytch remained incarcerated in Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold, NJ until being transferred back to Pennsylvania on 3/20/19. This would make the second time in as many years that Sytch was extradited from New Jersey's Monmouth County to Pennsylvania's Carbon Count because Sytch had violated her parole.
Court records indicated that Sytch had missed a scheduled drug test on 2/11/19 and failed to report as directed to her parole officer. She had also failed to maintain a stable residence or report her whereabouts. This triggered a bench warrant for her arrest in Pennsylvania on 2/15/29. That same day, the Carbon County Probation Department filed a motion to revoke her October 2018 parole, so when she was arrested in New Jersey, she was handed back over to PA, where she remained until she was granted parole again on 2/21/20.
Five months later in New Jersey, Sytch was arrested on the morning of 7/13/20, charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle during a second license suspension, Eluding a Police Officer, and Contempt/Violation of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. That arrest immediately triggered, yet again, the State of Pennsylvania seeking to revoke her parole. PA court records indicated that until her 7/13/20 arrest, Sytch had been adhering to her parole requirements, including monthly payments of financial restitution.
With Sytch incarcerated and facing charges in Monmouth County Correctional, Pennsylvania did not move to extradite her for a third time. Instead, they rescinded the bench warrant on 5/14/21. Sytch was released on 6/9/21 from Monmouth County, stating the same month that she had resolved all of her legal matters in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
However, court records show Sytch owes money to the following New Jersey jurisdictions:
Aberdeen Township Municipal Court - $1,278.00 after agreeing to make monthly payments starting April 2018. Court records denote no payments have ever been made. This stems from a March 2018 arrest for Reckless Driving and driving after driver's license or registration is suspended or revoked.
Long Branch Municipal Court - $4,512.00 after agreeing to make monthly payments starting August 2019. Court records denote no payments have ever been made. This stems from an August 2018 arrest for Reckless Driving, having an open container of alcohol in vehicle while driving, reckless driving, having no liability insurance coverage on a motor vehicle, driving after driver's license or registration is suspended or revoked, no limited liability coverage on motor vehicle.
Middletown Township Municipal Court - $1,217.00 after agreeing to make monthly payments starting May 2019. Court records denote one payment of $100 was made. This stems from a February 2018 arrest for driving after driver's license or registration is suspended or revoked, driving or parking an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to possess an insurance card.
Holmdel Township Municipal Court - $1,164.000 after agreeing to make monthly payments starting September 2019. Court records note no payments have ever been made. This stems from a June 2019 arrest where she refused to take a breathalyzer.
Seaside Heights Municipal Court - $1,389.000 after agreeing to make monthly payments starting February 2020. Court records denote no payments have ever been made. This stems from an August 2019 arrest operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor or drugs.
Sytch's PA case is currently listed as closed, but court records in Pennsylvania indicate that Sytch and her attorney in PA, Brian Gazio, were informed on 2/10 that Sytch was 1,050 days overdue on making payments towards her court costs. Court records indicate Sytch currently owes $4,315.12 (and counting) to Carbon County, PA with the last payment of $120 paid back on 6/15/20.
Sytch has been through several personal and legal issues over the last decade, including a period in 2012 and 2013 where she was arrested five times over the span of a month after she violated an order of protection taken out by a former boyfriend in Connecticut on three separate occasions. Sytch was also charged with disorderly conduct, third degree burglary, and three counts of violating a protective order. In that case, Sytch served 114 days in jail before being released, at which point she moved to Pennsylvania.
Sytch was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 and is considered the original "WWE Diva." She first broke into the business in Smoky Mountain Wrestling in the early 1990s before being signed to WWF as an announcer and later a manager. She left WWF in 1999 to work for the original ECW and had a run in World Championship Wrestling as well. At one point, Sytch was the hottest female talent in professional wrestling and was the most downloaded celebrity on AOL back in 1997.
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