Earnhardt Ganassi crewmen get 18 months probation for marijuana charge

Telling a North Carolina judge that they have learned their lesson, two former Earnhardt Ganassi Racing crewmen avoided jail and were sentenced to 18 months probation Wednesday for possession of marijuana.

Trevor Lysne and Jerome Frey appeared in North Carolina Superior Court on charges stemming from their arrest Aug. 9, 2011, after authorities seized 10.62 pounds of marijuana from an apartment that belonged to Lysne.

Lysne, a former EGR tire changer for Juan Pablo Montoya, and Frey, a mechanic, were charged with trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana. Lysne also faced an additional charge of maintaining a dwelling to sell a controlled substance.

Those charges were reduced as part of a plea agreement. Frey, 28, and Lysne, 41, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of marijuana. The judge could have sentenced each of them to up to 15 months in jail.

Instead as part of the plea agreement, Judge Yvonne Evans sentenced them to 18 months supervised probation and fines, court costs and fees totaling at least $900 for Lysne and $600 or Frey. As part of the plea, they could have the charges dismissed and their records cleared once they successfully complete probation.

Both were fired by the team and suspended by NASCAR after their arrests for possession of marijuana. Both have landed employment outside the racing industry.

“I’ve learned a valuable lesson," Lysne told the judge. “I lost [my] job and embarrassed my friends and family."

Neither Frey nor Lysne had any prior convictions.

“All I can say is I learned the greatest lesson I can learn," Frey told the judge. “I disappointed my entire family." Scenedaily.com