Early Release Possible...

[From Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Singer Brown to stay in DeKalb jail
Release could come March 21

By DAVID SIMPSON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/27/04

Singer Bobby Brown can expect to stay in the DeKalb County Jail at least three more weeks for his latest probation violation.

State Court Judge Wayne Purdom on Friday approved an agreement between Brown's lawyer, Vincent Dimmock, and the DeKalb solicitor's office that included a 60-day sentence. Brown had served seven days in jail since his Feb. 20 arrest for violating his probation on a drunken-driving conviction, and his sentence can be shortened by 30 days for good conduct at the jail, meaning he could be released as early as March 21.

Brown sat through the brief hearing wearing an orange jail uniform and spoke only to ask about the sentence.

Perhaps because the judge did not originally mention the "good time" credit, Brown asked Purdom, "Does this mean I'm going back to jail for 60 days?" After the judge explained the possible early release, Brown said, "All right, I understand, thank you."

Purdom said the entertainer had met most of the conditions of his probation, including community service. But he missed appointments to meet with a probation officer and to take drug tests, and he fell $105 behind on probation supervision payments, the judge said.

After the jail sentence, Brown will be barred from driving for 60 days, but he no longer will have to report to probation officers or restrict his travel. If he avoids a motor vehicle arrest for 60 days after his driving privileges are restored, the judge said, his case will be closed.

Purdom did not mention Brown's pending criminal case in Fulton County involving a Dec. 7 dispute with his wife, singer Whitney Houston. DeKalb probation officials mentioned that case in petitioning for Brown's arrest last week.

Brown's problems in DeKalb stem from a 1996 arrest for drunken driving. He pleaded guilty to that charge and served five days in jail in January 2003. Last August, he served a week in jail for an earlier probation violation, followed by 60 days of house arrest.
 

NEWSFILE: 27 FEBRUARY 2004