Antonio Brown, the former NFL wide receiver, is currently embroiled in a serious legal matter in Florida. Facing a charge of second-degree attempted murder, Brown has entered a plea of not guilty. If convicted, he could be looking at a 15-year prison sentence and a fine reaching up to $10,000. Despite the gravity of the charges, a judge has decided to release him on a $25,000 bail under the condition that he wears a GPS ankle monitor.
This decision came during a court hearing on Wednesday, where Brown appeared remotely, dressed in a red prison jumpsuit. Throughout the proceedings, he spoke only when responding to the judge’s inquiries. Prosecutors had pushed for pretrial detention, arguing that Brown’s financial means and status as a former professional athlete could enable him to leave the country. However, the judge ruled against this, imposing the monitoring condition instead.
Brown’s attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, conveyed that his client would reside in his Broward County home during the legal process. “He no longer has a passport and will be staying at his residence. I am eager to represent him vigorously in this case,” Eiglarsh assured Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer at the bond hearing.
Despite the bail arrangement, Antonio Brown remained in custody as of late Wednesday afternoon, according to online jail records. His release is pending due to the necessary processing for the ankle monitor and other procedural requirements. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case continues to draw significant public interest due to Brown’s high-profile sports career and the serious nature of the charges against him.
Brown appeared at the hearing via video wearing a red jail shirt and spoke only to answer questions from the judge. Prosecutors had sought pretrial detention, contending Brown is a high-paid former professional athlete with the resources to flee.
Online jail records showed Brown was still in custody late Wednesday afternoon. Eiglarsh said it wasn’t clear exactly when he would be released because of ankle monitor processing and other issues.
According to an arrest warrant, Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami on May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
Brown’s attorney said Wednesday that the affidavit is mistaken and that Brown actually used his personal firearm, and that the shots were not aimed at anyone.
“It was my client’s own gun,” Eiglarsh said.
Based on his social media posts, Brown had been living in Dubai for several months. In a social media post after the altercation, Brown said he was defending himself because he was “jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me.”
Eiglarsh said Brown has unspecified business interests in Dubai and always intended to turn himself in on the attempted murder charge.
“He didn’t flee to Dubai,” the lawyer said. “He always had a desire and intention to answer this case.”
Brown, who spent 12 years in the NFL, was an All-Pro wide receiver who last played in 2021 for Tampa Bay but spent most of his career with Pittsburgh. For his career, Brown had 928 receptions for more than 12,000 yards and accounted for 88 total touchdowns counting punt returns and one pass.
