NFL player Antonio Brown is going to be able to stay at home while he waits for his trial on a charge of attempted murder. A judge, Mindy Glazer, of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, ruled on Wednesday that Mr. Brown can live at home with GPS tracking instead of jail.

State prosecutors argued that Mr. Brown’s wealth and international ties make him a likely fugitive; however, his attorneys effectively countered those arguments. Attorney Mark Eiglarsh stated during a remote hearing that Mr. Brown would follow all orders and remain in Southern Florida while working on his case.

“He does not have a passport anymore,” Eiglarsh explained. “He’ll be residing at his home in Broward County, which is close to my office, and I assure you that we are working diligently on his case.” Eiglarsh also stated that allowing Mr. Brown to remain free until trial would enable him to support his seven kids (and eight once his seventh child is born).

A Hotly-Contested Bail Hearing

Former NFL Star Antonio Brown Granted Bail, Ordered to House Arrest in Florida
A recent mugshot of Antonio Brown.

The prosecution argued against Mr. Brown being granted bail. Ms. Kimberly Rivera argued that Mr. Brown’s prior travels and recent social media posts demonstrate that he is capable of leaving the country. Rivera argued that Mr. Brown demonstrated a lack of respect for the law and a willingness to flee justice when he traveled to Dubai and ultimately was arrested there.

Mr. Brown, however, argued that the trip to Dubai happened before charges were filed and that his lawyers indicated that Mr. Brown went to Dubai to conduct business in the region.

Attorney Richard Cooper, who represents the alleged victim, also spoke out against granting Mr. Brown bail. Cooper stated that Mr. Brown intended to kill the alleged victim and fled the jurisdiction to avoid responsibility for his actions. “Mr. Brown wanted to kill this man and then he wanted to avoid accountability,” Cooper told the court. “He left the jurisdiction and bragged about it on social media for months. The United States Marshals Service brought him back.”

The Allegations

Prosecutors charged Mr. Brown with attempted murder stemming from a shooting that occurred outside a boxing match in Miami’s Little Haiti area on May 16. According to prosecutors, Mr. Brown fired at the alleged victim during an altercation at the venue. Mr. Brown maintains his innocence and has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.

Prior to his apprehension in Dubai last week, Mr. Brown continued to post frequently on Instagram, which boasts over 15 million followers. In one video, Mr. Brown was seen driving a black Lamborghini and promoting the online sports betting site BC Game. Prosecutors used these videos to show how Mr. Brown had displayed that he was flaunting his freedom while evading law enforcement.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers’ star, who retired from professional football in 2021 after short stints with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now finds himself facing what could potentially be the biggest challenge of his career.