SOMERVILLE — Actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer was convicted today of assault by auto in connection with a drunken crash in Montgomery Township that killed a woman and critically injured the victim's husband.

Jurors in Superior Court, however, found the 40-year-old Locane-Bovenizer not guilty of the second and more serious charge in the deadly crash, aggravated manslaughter, and instead convicted her on vehicular homicide, a lesser offense that was included in that charge.

She now faces five to 10 years on the vehicular homicide charge, and three to five on the assault by auto charge. They could be consecutive.

Locane-Bovenizer also faces penalties for nine motor vehicle summonses that include DWI and fleeing the scene of an accident.

"This was a case that needed to go to a jury, and certainly we'll respect their decision," said Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano

The split verdict follows a month-and-a-half trial in which her attorneys claimed the crash was actually the result of a "perfect storm" of circumstances.

Prosecutors had accused the former "Melrose Place" actress of driving drunk in June 2010 when her Chevrolet Tahoe slammed into a Mercury Milan that was turning left on Cherry Hill Road. Her blood-alcohol content, they said, was three times the legal limit of .08.

The crash killed the Milan's passenger, 60-year-old Helene Seeman, and injured its driver, husband Fred Seeman. The prosecution argued that Locane-Bovenizer, 40, was driving 53 mph on a dark, curving, rural road that has a speed limit of 35 mph.

Locane-Bovenizer has been on trial for a month and a half on charges of aggravated manslaughter and assault by auto. She could be sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The victims' family members were not in the Somerville courtroom today, and Fred Seeman could not be immediately reached for comment.

Defense attorney Ellen Torregrossa-O'Connor did not contest that Locane-Bovenizer was drunk, but argued that the actress was driving at a high speed because she was being chased by a woman she had rear-ended just before the fatal crash. The defense also said Fred Seeman was turning his sedan too slowly.

Locane-Bovenizer, of Hopewell Township, did not testify.

Somerset County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Murphy urged jurors last week to focus on the alcohol, saying Locane-Bovenizer had eight to 10 drinks over a couple hours before the crash and was visibly drunk before she got behind the wheel.

Of the 184 names on the trial's witness list, 42 testified for the prosecution, and 10 testified for the defense.

Locane-Bovenizer also faces two court summonses out of Montgomery Township and seven out of Princeton Township — all of which involve DWI and reckless driving offenses. Superior Court Judge Robert Reed, who is presiding over the trial, is expected to rule on them in this trial.

Related coverage

• Fate of 'Melrose Place' actress now in jury's hands

• Defense: Fatal crash involving 'Melrose Place' actress was an accident, not a crime

• Attorneys pick apart crash expert's testimony in 'Melrose Place' actress' trial

• Complete coverage of the Amy Locane trial

