As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis has been sentenced to six years in prison in a San Diego Superior Courtroom for attempting to hire a hit man to kill his wife. In February, the singer pleaded guilty to soliciting an undercover cop to murder Meggan Lambesis, whom he had married eight years prior and adopted three children with. At the time, he faced up to nine years in prison. According to Radio.com, the verdict was handed down as more than three dozen people, out of the 80-plus spectators present, wore yellow felt hearts in support of Meggan Lambesis. Three of Lambesis' bandmates - Nick Hipa, Phil Sgrosso and Josh Gilbert - were present at the sentencing.

Meggan said Lambesis' behavior changed in the prior months. He had bullied her. He had become "dangerous." Reading a prepared statement, she claimed her life "felt as fragile as a piece of paper that could float away at any moment." Meggan explained to the court that Lambesis texted her the day before his arrest asking for his children's social security numbers: "He was tying up loose ends," she said. She now believes he was fantasizing about killing her in advance, quoting a favorite line from the Arnold Schwarzenegger's film Total Recall where he shoots his wife and says, "Consider that a divorce." Meggan closed by requesting the maximum sentence and a lifetime restraining order.

Defense attorney Warwick explained that Lambesis has forever given up any future contact with the adopted children, per Meggan's request. Blaming the trainer at the gym who gave Lambesis the steroids, Warwick called the man a drug dealer, claiming that "Tim's aberrant behavior" would not have occurred if it were not for the steroids. Warwick claimed Lambesis put on 40 pounds and, with the steroids combined, "morphed" into a different person.

Struggling to speak, Tim Lambesis wept before he could look at his wife. He said he could not verbally apologize before because of his restraining orders. "I do feel deep remorse. I want to thank you... for your prayers... in the midst of everything that I've done... that you have still have the heart that you do."

The judge also confirmed Meggan and children would receive 10 years' protection. Lambesis will return to court where he faces a civil suit from Meggan, who is looking for $2 million in the suit.

Lambesis was arrested on May 7th, 2013, immediately after he handed cash and photographs of his wife, along with gate codes to her home, to a San Diego County Sheriff's deputy posing as a fake hit man. Tim was in custody less than a month before bonding out on $2 million bail. He has been on house arrest for nine months, living in Carlsbad, California.





Lambesis gave an in-depth interview to Alternative Press shortly before being sentenced, the first interview since his arrest where speaks about his case, and much more.

Meanwhile, the frontman's bandmates, along with drummer Jordan Mancino, have formed a new band called Wovenwar, which features Oh, Sleeper's Shane Blay on vocals.

Source:	radio.com
Band profile:	As I Lay Dying