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We know exactly where Zachery Ty Bryan, a former child star, will be spending the next year of his life. The Home Improvement alum has landed behind bars after several run-ins with the law, and it looks like he’ll finally be doing some hard time. A 16-month sentence caps a wild five years that included at least three DUI arrests and a slew of other assault and domestic violence charges.

Zachery Ty Bryan was sentenced to 16 months in jail

Zachery Ty Bryan will have about 16 months to think about the direction his life has taken since he walked away from Hollywood. The former Home Improvement star has been sentenced to 16 months in a California jail for driving under the influence. According to TMZ, he was rearraigned on a 2024 DUI charge after striking a deal with prosecutors. The outlet claims Bryan admitted to multiple DUI convictions and was initially seeking probation, but a judge denied the request.  

According to court records, Bryan has been in custody in La Quinta, California since January 30. While he was given credit for time already served, he’ll still spend many more months in a county detention center. His next court appearance is scheduled for September. It is unclear exactly when he’ll be sentenced for his probation violation in a compeltely different case in a different jurisdiction.

Zachery Ty Bryan rose to fame in the 1990s as Brad Taylor on Home Improvement. He held the role from 1991 to 1999. Bryan parlayed his success as a child star into adult acting roles, though he completely stepped away from Hollywood in 2009. In 2022, he attempted a return, with a role in The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!). He has no acting credits after 2022.

The former child star could face even more jail time

While Zachery Ty Bryan is currently locked up, his legal troubles won’t end when he gets out of county jail in California. Bryan has had an extremely troubling stretch in recent years, which has included multiple arrests for assault and domestic violence. He still has an active criminal case in Oregon stemming from a 2025 probation violation.

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Before being sentenced to jail time in California, prosecutors in Oregon suggested the former Home Improvement star serve a 20-month sentence for violating the terms of his probation from a 2023 domestic violence arrest. If the judge accepts the prosecutor’s recommendation, Bryan could be transferred directly from California to Oregon to serve that sentence as well.

His fiancée, Johnnie Faye Cartwright, is also facing legal issues, with a DUI and an assault charge of her own. Before linking up with Cartwright, Bryan was married to his high school sweetheart, Carly Matros. They married in 2007. They finalized their divorce in 2020. The former flames share four children. Bryan and Cartwright have three additional children together. Bryan’s ex-wife has not issued a statement about his legal troubles.

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