Zachery Ty Bryan faces prison after stunning courtroom reversal

Just a few years after being remembered as a beloved son of television, Zachery Ty Bryan is now facing the most serious moment of his life.

The former “Home Improvement” star admitted to violating his probation, sparking fears he could be sent to prison for nearly two years.

As disturbing details resurface, Bryan’s troubled journey after fame has reached a breaking point.

Bryan appeared in court Monday morning and admitted to violating the terms of his probation three times, according to the Oregon newspaper. KEZI.

This admission radically changed the stakes of a case which already had serious consequences.

Following the confession, Bryan’s probation officer reportedly recommended he serve his entire 19 to 20 month prison sentence, a sentence related to his second domestic violence conviction in 2023.

The 44-year-old actor, who previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges in 2021, is now scheduled to be sentenced on February 17, 2026.

Court records show Bryan was released from Lane County Community Corrections on Dec. 10.

A few days earlier, during his appearance on December 3, he had denied these allegations. His change of heart now puts his freedom in serious danger.

The probation violations stem from a chaotic and dangerous incident on November 29 in Eugene, Oregon.

Bryan and his fiancee, Johnnie Faye Cartwright, 32, were both arrested after police say the situation escalated significantly while their three young children were present.

Authorities say the engaged couple was driving together when Bryan got out of their van and started walking down the road.

Investigators say Cartwright then tried to hit him with the vehicle, eventually crashing into a ditch with the children still inside.

Police said Bryan also violated a court order requiring him to stay away from Cartwright.

Prison files examined by the Daily Mail later confirmed that Bryan was not given bail after his arrest.

Officers noted that “Bryan was able to move out of the way and avoid injury” despite the fact that he and his fiancée “were impaired,” adding that “no one inside the van was injured.”

Eyewitnesses were interviewed at the scene as authorities worked to piece together what happened.

Zachery Ty Bryan and Johnnie Faye Cartwright were taken into custody, with law enforcement noting the former child star violated a court order.

In an official report, authorities said, “Upon further investigation, Cartwright was arrested for Attempted Assault 1st Degree, three counts of Reckless Endangerment, and DUI. Bryan was arrested for probation violation on an original charge of 4th degree assault. The children involved were placed with a family member.

Court records obtained by PEOPLE later showed that Cartwright pleaded not guilty to one count of driving under the influence, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and three counts of reckless driving.

At the time of his arrest, jail records reflected a slightly different breakdown of charges, including one count of attempted assault and multiple misdemeanors.

Earlier this month, a judge denied Cartwright’s request to modify his pretrial release after Us every week confirmed that an arrest warrant had been issued for alleged violations related to the incident.

She was due to appear in court again on December 18.

As legal pressure mounted, Bryan spoke publicly about the shadow cast by his early success.

Addressing his latest arrest related to domestic violence, he explained that “fame as a child actor left scars” in his life and psyche, contributing to the legal struggles that followed him into adulthood.

In an interview with TMZ after another incident, Bryan acknowledged the personal consequences of growing up in the spotlight.

He said that “being thrust into the spotlight at the age of nine brought pressures that I was not equipped to handle – but that does not justify my choices as an adult.”

He added that he was embarking on “a journey of personal growth” following his latest arrest and stressed that he understood that “domestic violence, in any form, is unacceptable.”

Bryan also said he “deeply” regrets the harm caused by what he described as immaturity rooted in his unconventional upbringing.

“The truth is, I struggled with the lasting effects of early fame, addiction and poor decision-making, which hurt the people I cared about and led to repeated legal problems, including drunk driving and past domestic incidents,” Bryan told the outlet.

Zachery Ty Bryan’s recent legal troubles extend beyond the November incident.

Earlier this month, his ex-girlfriend obtained a five-year restraining order against him.