Miami (AFP) – Former NFL star Antonio Brown could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison in his attempted murder case stemming from a shooting earlier this year, Florida prosecutors said on Monday. Brown, a star receiver in Tom Brady’s 2021 Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, was extradited from Dubai to the United States last week to face charges in the case.
The 37-year-old, who has already pleaded not guilty to the charge, appeared briefly on Monday during a virtual arraignment held by Miami-Dade Circuit Court. Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Cruz said Brown could be sentenced to “30 years state prison, with a 20-year minimum mandatory” if convicted. Brown’s defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh said Brown would see a trial by jury over the case while Judge Marisa Tinkler-Mendez set a further hearing for December 22.
Related news
Police have alleged that Brown fired multiple shots after grabbing a handgun from a security guard during an altercation at an amateur boxing event in Miami on May 16. Brown addressed the incident in a post on X on May 17, saying he had been “jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me.”
The incident is the latest in a long line of legal problems faced by Brown, who spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before linking up with NFL great Brady and the Buccaneers in 2021. Brown was accused of sexual assault by a former trainer in a 2019 civil suit which he later settled, and also pleaded no contest to burglary and battery in 2020 after an incident with a removal truck company outside his home.
Brown’s NFL career came to an end after he famously removed his jersey and stormed off the field during a Tampa Bay game against the New York Jets in 2022.
© 2024 AFP
