Cowboys Player Has Bond Lowered, Must Wear Electronic Monitor
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - During a Tuesday morning court hearing a Dallas County judge reduced Dallas Cowboys player Josh Brent's bond from $500,000 to $100,000. Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins agreed with the change and said the new amount is more in line with the bond schedule for the charge he faces.
Brent is charged with Intoxication Manslaughter for the death of his friend and teammate Jerry Brown Junior.
Brent's attorney, George Milner, had protested the bond amount from the beginning and said the order was just. "They agreed to what I wanted in the beginning, because that is exactly the right thing to do," he said. "We've [now] got our first shot at a level playing field. The district attorney's office is playing this one a hundred percent. They're doing it just like they should."
The judge made another decision concerning Brent's freedom. As part of his bond conditions, the 24-year-old will also have to wear a SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) ankle monitor. The monitor detects alcohol consumption through sweat glands. 'This SCRAM monitor will allow us to monitor his alcohol intake and to let us know where he will be 24/7," Watkins explained. "And if he does consume alcohol a report will be generated and we'll be back in court to have his bond held insufficient or forfeited."
During Tuesday's hearing prosecutors also revealed that Brent does not have a valid driver license. The only license he had was issued in Illinois, but that was suspended and expired. "Another condition placed on him is the fact that he can't even operate a motor vehicle unless and until he receives a driver's license," Watkins said.
It is unknown how difficult it is to obtain a valid driver license in Texas when the individual has Intoxication Manslaughter charges pending. Even if Brent is legally able to obtain a state license, the judge ruled that a Breathalyzer device must be installed before he can drive.
Brent has made no public comments since the accident. Since his client's arrest Milner had said Brent was being mistreated because he is a Dallas Cowboy. Today the attorney said, "He is being treated the same way anyone would be treated or anyone else gets treated and that's all I've been asking for since Saturday afternoon – Sunday, when I first set that bond."
When asked about the controversy over Brent's appearance on the sidelines during Sunday's Cowboys game, Milner said, "The real truth is he's still a member of the team."
Brent has been placed on the NFL reserve/non-football illness list and won't play again this season, but he was on the sideline with his teammates Sunday. His presence sparked a passionate debate when CBS football studio analyst Boomer Esiason expressed his disgust with the decision to allow him on the field. "It's the last thing I thought I would see today I think it is disgraceful by the Dallas Cowboys to put that young man on the sideline," said Esiason, during the NFL Today halftime show. "Football players are an example, and Josh Brent is the worst of those examples.
During his Monday press conference Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said of having Brent on the sideline, "That was a result of the wishes of Stacey Jackson, Jerry Brown's mom, who stood before us at the memorial on Tuesday and really encouraged everybody and almost made a plea to everybody to keep Josh in our family and to keep him close and support him in every way that we can."
Coach Garrett went on to say that while he, owner Jerry Jones and players are fully supporting Brown's family, the team is not condoning drunk driving in any way. 105.3 The Fan is reporting that Brent will not be allowed on the sidelines for any future games.
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