Over the weekend, we reported that the former Home Improvement star Zachery Ty Bryan had been arrested for the sixth time in five years. On Wednesday, Bryan finally learned his fate when he appeared in court for the first time following this arrest.
Bryan Learns His Fate
Bryan, 44, was arrested on Saturday afternoon for violating his probation. He was then denied bail and given an “end of sentence date” of Wednesday, December 3.
When Bryan finally appeared in court yesterday, the former child star surprised many by entering a denial on the charges that he violated the terms of his probation. He’s on probation due to a prior domestic violence conviction. This was confirmed by court documents obtained by People Magazine.
After entering this denial, Bryan was given a hearing date on the probation violation charge for later this month. He was subsequently transferred to Lane County Community Corrections on a “detainer.” At the time of this writing, Bryan remains in custody there.
According to the Lane County official website, “This program houses offenders in a structured setting, allowing them to leave the premises for work or other approved activities such as drug treatment.”
Bryan’s Disturbing Arrest
Daily Mail has obtained official records from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in Eugene, Oregon. According to these records, Bryan was arrested alongside his fiancé Johnnie Faye Cartwright, 32, on Saturday, November 29 in Fall Creek. The couple have been engaged since November of 2021. They are parents to three children: daughter Kennedy, 3, and twins Parker and Sequoia, 2.
The details behind their arrests are deeply disturbing.
“On November 29th at about 12:30 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of reckless endangering in the area of Big Fall Creek Road milepost 5, a popular camping area northeast of Lowell,” the Lane County Police Department said in a statement posted to Facebook. “Deputies learned Zachery Ty Bryan, 44, of Eugene, was in a pickup truck with Johnnie Faye Cartwright, 32, of Eugene, and their three small children.”
“They were driving together in the area,” the arresting agency continued. “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.”
‘Both Were Impaired…’
Sadly, things only got worse from there.
“Deputies interviewed Bryan and Cartwright, deputies observed signs both were impaired. Deputies also interviewed witnesses contacted on scene,” the statement added. “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 DUII,” the statement concluded. “Bryan was arrested for a probation violation on an original charge of Assault in the 4th Degree. The involved children were placed with a family member.”
Bryan’s History
Bryan is best known for starring alongside Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson on Home Improvement. He played their oldest son Brad Taylor on the series from 1991 until 1999.
Just a few weeks before his latest arrest, Bryan gave an interview in which he blamed his latest previous domestic violence arrest on the tough transition from childhood fame to adulthood. He claimed that “fame as a child actor left scars” in his life and mindset that have led to run-ins with the law.
“Being thrust into the spotlight at nine-years-old brought pressures I wasn’t equipped to handle,” Bryan later added. “But that’s no justification for my choices as an adult.”
Allen has attempted to show some support for his former TV son in the past. Allen famously served two years in prison for drug charges before being released in 1981. From there, he was able to turn his life around and achieve Hollywood stardom.
“Zach is a great kid who has grown into a complex man,” Allen told The Hollywood Reporter back in 2023. “All you can do is step aside and let somebody go through their process.”
“At a certain point, he deviated from the guy I know to somebody who is reacting to situations that I had nothing to do with and can’t control,” he concluded. “I don’t know what happens when people get corrupted. You just don’t know.”
After six arrests in five years, it’s not looking good for Bryan and his future. In the end, it’s sad to watch someone who helped bring joy to millions on a beloved sitcom like Home Improvement go down this road.