According to Alternative Press, As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis has been released from prison after serving less than half of his six-year sentence for conspiracy to commit murder.
Lambesis was discharged from a California detention facility on December 17, 2016 and was transferred to the Division of Adult Parole Operations.
“Everybody else is suffering. His wife is living in fear. His children are living in fear.”
Back in May 2014, Lambesis was given a six-year prison sentence without probation for his role in the murder-for-hire plot.
The now-36-year-old musician was arrested in May 2013 after handing the “hitman” — really an undercover police officer — $1,000 in cash, along with his wife’s address and gate security codes.
Lambesis spent 24 days in a local jail (and given credit at sentencing for 48) after his initial arrest before he paid $160,000 in fees to the bondsman who posted his $2 million bail. The singer was on house arrest at his parents’ home in Del Mar, California, wearing a GPS monitor, from June 2013 until his sentencing in May 2014.
Investigators said the undercover cop operation was staged after Lambesis told a man at his gym at Pure Fitness back in April 2013 that he wanted his wife killed. Lambesis was allegedly complaining that she was making life difficult for him, that it was hard for him to see his children and that it was impossible for them to complete their divorce.
“[Lambesis said that] he wasn’t allowed to visit his kids, he wasn’t allowed to see his kids, he wasn’t allowed to take his kids out of the state to go on tour with him, and that angered him,” the undercover officer testified. “And the fact that his wife was gonna get a large portion — up to 60 percent — of his income [as part of a divorce settlement].”
Two weeks before his sentencing, Lambesis gave an interview to a probation officer, who then prepared a report which included the following quotes from Tim:
“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t wish I could undo this….
“An apology to Meggan does not seem like enough to make it up to her. I don’t have any animosity towards her and I have deep remorse….
“We had a difficult separation…. I was trying to fight for my kids through the courts but was not seeing any results. I felt helpless and I began to feel desperate….
“I was in a different mindset due to the separation and custody experience and my mind was altered due to the steroid use.
“My steroid use was affecting many decisions in my life.
“I am not a risk to her (Meggan) in the slightest way….
“If you look at the majority of my life, this was out of character for me. I don’t have a history of violence. I have never been an angry person. Given the potential of my future, I feel that I can be an asset to others if I am allowed to remain in the community.”
Lambesis in 2015 filed a lawsuit against a California medical team alleging that he was not given a prescribed medication for nearly two months prior to his incarceration, resulting in him developing gynecomastia (enlarged breasts). Public records show that his lawsuit was dismissed in October 2016 with prejudice, possibly because the parties had reached a settlement agreement.
Tim‘s former As I Lay Dying bandmates Jordan Mancino (drums), Nick Hipa (guitar), Phil Sgrosso (guitar) and Josh Gilbert (bass) have teamed up with vocalist Shane Blay (previously lead guitar/clean vocals in Oh Sleeper) and have formed a new band in 2013, Wovenwar. Their second studio album “Honor Is Dead” was released on October 21, 2016, via Metal Blade Records.
Awakened, the sixth album from As I Lay Dying, has been released Sept. 25 2012 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was produced by Bill Stevenson, who has played drums for both the Descendents and Black Flag and is one of the most highly renowned producers in rock. His production credits include work on records by Rise Against, NOFX, Propaghandi, The Casualties and many more. The album was mixed by Colin Richardson [Machine Head, Napalm Death, Slipknot]