Football players Josh Brent and Jerry Brown were best friends since they met at the University of Illinois. That friendship came to a tragic end when Josh Brent got into a car accident that killed Jerry Brown. Now, Brent, a 24-year-old nose guard for the Dallas Cowboys, not only has to deal with losing his best friend, but also has to face criminal charges of intoxicated manslaughter.
During the early morning hours of December 8, 2012, Brent crashed his Mercedes Benz after leaving the Privae Dallas club. Brent was driving at a high speed when he hit a curb. The Mercedes Benz flipped over and the engine caught on fire shortly after the crash.
A witness named Stacee Williams informed a local ABC news affiliate that she arrived on the scene moments after the crash. She stated that she saw Brent pacing along the side of the road when the car burst into flames. She heard Brown screaming inside the vehicle and told Brent to help his friend out of the car. She stated that Brent was hesitant, but eventually pulled Brown out of the burning vehicle. Brent’s attorney disputes Williams’s account of what occurred and said her statements are inconsistent with the information provided in the police report.
Brent sustained neck and wrist injuries. Brown, a player on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, died from blunt force injuries to his head and neck. The death was ruled accidental.
When Irving police officers arrived on the scene, they smelled a moderate amount of alcohol on Brent’s breath. Irving police officers arrested Brent at the scene of the accident for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Brent admitted that he consumed alcohol at a club prior to driving the vehicle. The officers took a blood sample from Brent at a hospital to measure his blood alcohol level. Brent was released from the Irving City Jail after posting a $500,000 bond.
This recent incident isn’t Brent’s first brush with the law. Brent previously plead guilty to a DUI charge in 2009 while he was a football player at the University of Illinois. Brent’s punishment consisted of a 60 day jail sentence, a fine, 200 hours of community service and two years on probation.
In Texas, a criminal defendant can be charged with manslaughter if his reckless behavior caused the death of another individual. Manslaughter is a second degree felony. Brent could be facing a prison sentence that lasts from two to twenty years and a maximum fine of $10,000 if he is found guilty of manslaughter. Texas, like other states, tends to hand out harsher criminal punishments for repeat offenders. Brent’s DUI attorney will have to decide if striking a plea deal with the prosecutor or going to trial is better for his client.
If you have been charged with a DUI, contact a Maryland DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Schedule a consultation to discuss your case. Our Maryland DUI lawyers at have years of experience successfully defending clients in DUI cases. An experienced Maryland DUI lawyer will evaluate your case and help you reach the best resolution. Visit Ed Tayter’s DUI defense website by clicking here.
