Zachery Ty Bryan, once the grinning face of 90s sitcom royalty on “Home Improvement”, is now staring down the very real possibility of spending nearly two years behind bars. And it’s not just because of a single bad decision—it’s the growing pile of them.
The former child star admitted in court this week to violating his probation “not once, not twice,” but three times. His probation officer didn’t mince words: serve the full 19- to 20-month sentence.
And this isn’t a one-off stumble. Bryan’s legal troubles stretch back years, with two domestic violence convictions already on his record—one from 2021, another in 2023. This latest round of trouble? It’s tied to a chaotic and dangerous incident that unfolded in November, when both Bryan and his fiancée, Johnnie Faye Cartwright, were arrested after she allegedly tried to run him over while their three young children were in the car. Yes, seriously.
Police say Bryan exited their truck during an argument, and Cartwright, reportedly impaired at the time, tried to strike him with the vehicle—only to end up in a ditch. Miraculously, no one was injured, but the couple’s children were inside the vehicle during the entire ordeal.
Both adults were taken into custody. Bryan was hit with a probation violation, and Cartwright? She was slapped with charges including attempted assault, DUI, and multiple counts of reckless endangerment.
But it doesn’t stop there. Just earlier this month, Bryan’s ex-girlfriend was granted a five-year restraining order after accusing him of punching her and threatening to kill her during a July altercation.
That’s on top of the ongoing case in South Carolina from another alleged domestic incident back in January.
At this point, Bryan’s public statements read like a tragic script: early fame, addiction struggles, poor decisions, personal regret. He’s said all the right things—he’s in therapy, pursuing rehab, trying to get back on track. He even told TMZ he’s haunted by being labeled a “bad dad.”
But for the court, talk only goes so far. His sentencing is now set for February 17, 2026, and unless the judge shows mercy, Bryan may be spending that time behind bars instead of playing dad at home.
Once the golden boy of ABC’s primetime lineup, Zachery Ty Bryan is now navigating a very different role—one filled with legal entanglements, broken relationships, and a steep climb toward redemption.
