Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown will serve two years of probation, attend a 13-week anger management program and undergo a psychological exam as part of a plea deal relating to a January incident at Brown’s Hollywood home involving a moving company truck driver.

On Friday, Brown changed his plea to no contest on charges of burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief, which means he will accept the sentence but did not admit guilt.

The order issued by Broward Judge Edward Merrigan Jr. also requires Brown to complete 100 hours of community service and restrict his travel to within the United States for work purposes. Merrigan withheld adjudication, meaning Brown will not be convicted of a crime.

On Jan. 21, the driver of a moving truck arrived at Brown’s Hollywood home to deliver his household goods from California.

Soon after, the driver called police to report a vandalism, saying Brown threw a rock at his truck. The driver told police that Brown paid the $4,000 he owed for moving, but refused to pay $860 for the damage and his time, according to the police report. The driver also told police that Brown grabbed him and pulled him during the struggle.

Recently released dashcam video of the tussle in the cab of the moving company truck showed the reflection of Brown entering the cab and shouting at the driver. Then the video showed what appeared to be a tussle.

Glenn Holt, Brown’s trainer, was arrested on Jan. 21 and charged with one count of burglary with battery.

Brown, who grew up in Liberty City and graduated from Miami Norland Senior High, refused to speak to officers and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The next day Brown turned himself in. He had been out on a $110,000 bond since January 24. He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“Rather than engage in a protracted legal case, Antonio decided to resolve this matter in an expeditious manner,” his attorneys said in a news release Friday.

In recent months, Brown, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders after a 2019 off-season and then released before the season began, has been in the spotlight. He was picked up by the New England Patriots, but was cut after only playing one game. A former trainer filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault.

Then eight days before the moving company truck incident, Hollywood police were called to Brown’s home after an altercation involving Brown’s ex-girlfriend, Chelsie Kyriss. Brown was not arrested, but police say Brown waved penis-shaped gummy candies at officers while calling them “a bag of d—-.”

Alana Burstyn, an adviser for Antonio, said in a statement Friday that “with this matter now resolved, Antonio looks forward to continuing his cooperation with the NFL and resuming his professional career.”

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown will serve two years of probation, attend a 13-week anger management program and undergo a psychological exam as part of a plea deal relating to a January incident at Brown’s Hollywood home involving a moving company truck driver.

On Friday, Brown changed his plea to no contest on charges of burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief, which means he will accept the sentence but did not admit guilt.

The order issued by Broward Judge Edward Merrigan Jr. also requires Brown to complete 100 hours of community service and restrict his travel to within the United States for work purposes. Merrigan withheld adjudication, meaning Brown will not be convicted of a crime.

On Jan. 21, the driver of a moving truck arrived at Brown’s Hollywood home to deliver his household goods from California.

Soon after, the driver called police to report a vandalism, saying Brown threw a rock at his truck. The driver told police that Brown paid the $4,000 he owed for moving, but refused to pay $860 for the damage and his time, according to the police report. The driver also told police that Brown grabbed him and pulled him during the struggle.

Recently released dashcam video of the tussle in the cab of the moving company truck showed the reflection of Brown entering the cab and shouting at the driver. Then the video showed what appeared to be a tussle.

Glenn Holt, Brown’s trainer, was arrested on Jan. 21 and charged with one count of burglary with battery.

Brown, who grew up in Liberty City and graduated from Miami Norland Senior High, refused to speak to officers and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The next day Brown turned himself in. He had been out on a $110,000 bond since January 24. He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“Rather than engage in a protracted legal case, Antonio decided to resolve this matter in an expeditious manner,” his attorneys said in a news release Friday.

In recent months, Brown, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders after a 2019 off-season and then released before the season began, has been in the spotlight. He was picked up by the New England Patriots, but was cut after only playing one game. A former trainer filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault.

Then eight days before the moving company truck incident, Hollywood police were called to Brown’s home after an altercation involving Brown’s ex-girlfriend, Chelsie Kyriss. Brown was not arrested, but police say Brown waved penis-shaped gummy candies at officers while calling them “a bag of d—-.”

Alana Burstyn, an adviser for Antonio, said in a statement Friday that “with this matter now resolved, Antonio looks forward to continuing his cooperation with the NFL and resuming his professional career.”

Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown will serve two years of probation, attend a 13-week anger management program and undergo a psychological exam as part of a plea deal relating to a January incident at Brown’s Hollywood home involving a moving company truck driver.

On Friday, Brown changed his plea to no contest on charges of burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief, which means he will accept the sentence but did not admit guilt.

The order issued by Broward Judge Edward Merrigan Jr. also requires Brown to complete 100 hours of community service and restrict his travel to within the United States for work purposes. Merrigan withheld adjudication, meaning Brown will not be convicted of a crime.

On Jan. 21, the driver of a moving truck arrived at Brown’s Hollywood home to deliver his household goods from California.

Soon after, the driver called police to report a vandalism, saying Brown threw a rock at his truck. The driver told police that Brown paid the $4,000 he owed for moving, but refused to pay $860 for the damage and his time, according to the police report. The driver also told police that Brown grabbed him and pulled him during the struggle.

Recently released dashcam video of the tussle in the cab of the moving company truck showed the reflection of Brown entering the cab and shouting at the driver. Then the video showed what appeared to be a tussle.

Glenn Holt, Brown’s trainer, was arrested on Jan. 21 and charged with one count of burglary with battery.

Brown, who grew up in Liberty City and graduated from Miami Norland Senior High, refused to speak to officers and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The next day Brown turned himself in. He had been out on a $110,000 bond since January 24. He originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“Rather than engage in a protracted legal case, Antonio decided to resolve this matter in an expeditious manner,” his attorneys said in a news release Friday.

In recent months, Brown, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders after a 2019 off-season and then released before the season began, has been in the spotlight. He was picked up by the New England Patriots, but was cut after only playing one game. A former trainer filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault.

Then eight days before the moving company truck incident, Hollywood police were called to Brown’s home after an altercation involving Brown’s ex-girlfriend, Chelsie Kyriss. Brown was not arrested, but police say Brown waved penis-shaped gummy candies at officers while calling them “a bag of d—-.”

Brown, who grew up in Liberty City and graduated from Miami Norland Senior High, was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders after a 2019 off-season.

Alana Burstyn, an advisor for Antonio, said in a statement Friday that “with this matter now resolved, Antonio looks forward to continuing his cooperation with the NFL and resuming his professional career.”

BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) – Updated to reflect Ahman Green was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, replacing an initial charge of child abuse intentionally causing harm, and with a statement from Green.

Former Green Bay Packers player Ahman Green entered a plea in court Thursday and was found guilty of charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, both misdemeanors, stemming from a fight with his then-15-year-old daughter last year.

“I am happy that the truth has finally won out and my name has been cleared of the terrible crime of child abuse. I have never and would never abuse anyone, including my daughter whom I love, dearly,” Green wrote in a statement after the hearing.

Green entered an Alford plea, similar to a no-contest plea but maintaining his innocence while waiving his right to a trial which was scheduled to begin this week.

He said “parental discipline” was the reason for the altercation with his daughter, but Green said he wanted to spare his daughter and the rest of his family “the emotional trauma of a trial.”

Brown County Judge John Zakowski told him there’s a fine line between parental discipline and child abuse. But, the judge added, “It is significant that Mr. Green is accepting responsibility and not putting anyone through a trial.”

According to the criminal complaint, Green’s daughter told police she and her father were arguing because she wouldn’t do the dishes. She says he grabbed her, carried her into the kitchen, threw her against a cabinet and hit her.

Green admitted hitting her with an open palm, according to the criminal complaint.

Green told the court Thursday, “Just as much as I wanted to be a football player, I wanted to be a parent. And that’s all I’ve done for the time I’ve had both my daughters and my stepkids. I’ve been in their lives. That’s all I’ve been wanting to do.”

He was sentenced to 18 months on probation. He’s not allowed any unsupervised contact with his daughter, and he must write her a letter of apology. He’s also required to take parenting and anger management classes and undergo an evaluation.

Zakowski said Green’s status as a former Packers player did not play into the decision in this case.

“It’s always difficult. If you were a Packer, you’re a celebrity, and there’s always a concern — and I’m saying this because Attorney Lemkiul addressed it — people are wondering if you’re being treated differently.”

The judge went on, “I’m satisfied that that’s not happening here, that this is a, quite frankly, factually, it’s not like many other difficult situations where a parent, a loving parent, and involved parent, has difficulties with a teenager.”

Now let the healing begin. #parenting #kids #family #love #healing #life #friends #fathersanddaughters pic.twitter.com/XJkIz4sgaY

— Ahman Green (@AhmanGreen30) April 19, 2018

The second of three Illini football players charged in an armed robbery prank will be on probation for one year. And the third is expected to get the same sentence next month.

Judge Tom Difanis this week sentenced 19 year-old Howard “HoJo” Watkins to 12 months of conditional discharge after Watkins admitted to a misdemeanor theft charge.

Attorney Tony Bruno, who represents the third defendant Darta Lee, said his client is expected to enter an identical plea on May 4 and also get one year of conditional discharge.

Earlier, another player, Zarrian Holcombe, admitted to a felony theft charge. But he can avoid a felony conviction if he completes the terms of his probation.

Prosecutors said the crime occurred on May 10 at Bromley Hall on campus.  They said Watkins, Lee and Holcombe wore masks, and one was armed with a BB gun. The men entered the room of someone they knew and demanded money.

Coach Lovie Smith kicked the players off the team soon after the allegations came to light.

URBANA — One of three former University of Illinois football players charged last year with robbing a fellow residence hall student has been given a chance to escape a criminal record.

Zarrian Holcombe, 20, who was a freshman from Houston, Texas, in 2017, pleaded guilty Tuesday before Judge Tom Difanis to theft from person.

As a result of a plea agreement negotiated by Holcombe’s attorney, Mike Zopf, and Assistant State’s Attorney Troy Lozar, Holcombe was sentenced to two years of second chance probation.

Under the provisions of that statute, Holcombe is convicted of the Class 3 felony but if he successfully completes the terms of his probation and does not commit any further crimes, then no judgment will be entered against him.

Such pleas are common in cases where the defendant is young and has no prior criminal convictions.

Holcombe admitted that on May 10, 2017, he joined with co-defendants Darta Lee and Howard Watkins, both 19, to steal less than $500 from a man who was living in Bromley Hall at 910 S. Third St. Holcombe, Lee and Watkins also lived there.

The resident reported that three masked men entered his room about 3:20 a.m. that Wednesday. One pulled what was believed to be a fake gun and demanded cash. The victim recognized the voice of one of the men, which eventually led Champaign police to all three.

They were initially charged with residential burglary and aggravated robbery. Holcombe spent 41 days in jail before someone posted bond for him in June. In January, Lozar filed another lesser count of criminal trespass to residence against Holcombe.

Those three charges were all dismissed and he pleaded guilty to the theft charge Lozar filed a week ago.

As part of his sentence, Holcombe will also have to perform 30 hours of public service and have no contact with the victim.

He, Watkins and Lee were all dismissed from the football team by Coach Lovie Smith in the wake of their criminal charges.

Zopf said Holcombe is now playing football on a scholarship at Prairie View A&M, in Prairie View, Texas.

Watkins’ criminal case is back in court April 17 while Lee’s is scheduled for May 8.

Professional football player Demetrius Harris is the latest high-profile victim in America’s racially charged and backwards war on weed.

According to initial reports from TMZ and a follow-up from the Kansas City Star, Harris was arrested in August 2017 after a routine traffic stop in Bates County, Mississippi turned up 35 grams of marijuana and an unnamed piece of drug paraphernalia. Harris, a passenger in the car, was initially charged with felony marijuana possession and a misdemeanor for the paraphernalia. Eventually, in return for having the cannabis charge reduced to a misdemeanor, Harris was persuaded to plead guilty to both crimes.

Since Mississippi is one of America’s remaining states with hardline reefer madness drug laws still on the books, Harris was called back to the Magnolia State last week for a sentencing hearing, where a Bates County judge sentenced the professional football player to two days in jail, two years of probation, and 80 days of community service. Additionally, as cannabis is still on the NFL’s banned substances list, Harris will be required to enter the league’s substance abuse program.

Even though Harris was taken into custody at the time of the arrest last year, he was not awarded time served. Therefore, the athlete entered a Bates County jail on March 9th, and has since completed the first part of his punishment.

And while two days in jail might seem like a minor sentence, even for possession of a plant that is entirely legal in nine states and Washington D.C., the additional years of probation added to Harris’ time behind bars highlights the unnecessary stranglehold that the criminal justice system has on minor convicts, particularly people of color.

In a new investigation by Rolling Stone into the continued legal troubles of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, who has been in and out of jail on probation violations that stem from a 2008 weapons charge, reporter Paul Solotaroff details how an initially minor charge can lead to a life of court dates and criminal accusations, even for lauded celebrities.

“Here is the trap of our post-conviction system: Defendants, even famous ones, live at the mercy of their judge and probation officer,” Solotaroff details. “It’s one thing to toe the line while holding a nine-to-five. But to live a spotless life while chasing the prize in hip-hop? Now, there’s a manual someone needs to write.”

Similarly, Harris’ life as a professional football player, including traveling out of state to away games, potential media appearances and endorsement meetings, is not conducive to the life of a probationer, despite his undeniably positive societal role as an athlete. Like Meek Mill, Harris will be liable to be sent back to jail for any number of minor infractions, including missteps as small as scheduling conflicts — all for being charged with a bag of weed that could have been purchased legally at a store in any number of states.

Harris will also need to resolve the issue with the NFL, a notoriously anti-cannabis employer, despite the league’s highly publicized love affair with painkillers. Harris is on the last year of his current contract with the Chiefs, and will need to sell himself in free agency next offseason, a task that could prove incredibly hard with a criminal conviction shadowing him at every potential meeting.

Harris is just one of nearly a million people per year who are arrested for nonviolent cannabis crimes in the U.S. Until cannabis reform is adopted on a national scale, Americans, and especially people of color, will continue to be persecuted and subsequently roped into a system that can hold one down for years.

As of press time, the Kansas City Chiefs, Harris’ current team, have not released a comment concerning the tight end’s sentence.

Follow Zach Harris on Twitter

FULTON COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) Former Notre Dame football player Kevin Stepherson was sentenced Tuesday to 180 days in Fulton County Jail stemming from his marijuana arrest in August 2016.

He was charged with violating probation after he failed a drug test in December.

Stepherson has spent the last 43 days in jail. With good behavior and time served, he’ll be released in 47 days.

Stepherson still faces charges in Marshall and St. Joseph counties, and he’s no longer enrolled at Notre Dame.

Stepherson was originally arrested for possession of marijuana in August of 2016 when he and four other teammates were pulled over in Fulton County. Stepherson entered a plea to have his charges removed as long as he could stay out of trouble for one year. The court accepted that plea for what’s known as a conditional discharge.

But the former Irish wide receiver, who was kicked off the football team in January, has not stayed out of trouble.

On December 14, Stepherson was pulled over in Marshall County. He was later charged with possession of marijuana, speeding, and no valid driver’s license. The next day, he was arrested for shoplifting a pair of sweatpants from Macy’s at the University Park Mall in Mishawaka. He was picked up walking out of the store allegedly wearing a stolen $59 pair of Nautica sweatpants he did not purchase. He’s been charged with conversion, a class A misdemeanor, from this incident. Both of those incidents were first reported by WNDU.

In late January, Stepherson was arrested again for possession of marijuana, this time in Whitley County.

He still faces charges for possession of marijuana in Marshall and Whitley counties as well as the theft charge out of St. Joseph County.

Despite the August arrest last year, Stepherson did not sit out a single game in 2016. He finished 2nd on the team in receiving.

While it was never acknowledged by Notre Dame, Stepherson was suspended for the first four games of 2017 for what sources tell NewsCenter 16 was a violation of team rules. He eventually returned to action and became one of Notre Dame’s most reliable wide receivers, catching a team high five touchdowns during the most recent football season. Stepherson started three games, catching 19 total passes for 359 yards.

The star player on the national champion University of Connecticut field hockey team who was charged with stealing $34 in makeup has been accepted into a probation program that could clear her record.

Charlotte Veitner apologized for the theft Tuesday as a state judge in Rockville approved her request for accelerated rehabilitation. A misdemeanor larceny charge will be erased if she successfully completes a nine-month probation period.

Police say the 22-year-old senior mechanical engineering major from Dusseldorf, Germany, was seen on surveillance video trying to hide makeup inside her shoulder bag at the campus bookstore Feb. 4. Police say she paid for another item and was heading toward the door when store staff stopped her.

Veitner, UConn’s all-time leading scorer, led the country with 34 goals during the Huskies’ run to the NCAA title. UConn went 23-0 and Veitner netted both goals in a 2-1 win over Maryland in the national title game in November.

It was UConn’s fifth title and third in five years.

She was recognized in December by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards with a Honda Sport Award, which is given to the top women’s athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.

While requesting the probation program, Veitner told a judge Tuesday that she wanted a chance to prove herself.

Her lawyer, Robert Britt, called the shoplifting incident “a momentary lapse of judgment that has profound repercussions.”

“Her intention is to live the best life she can because of the opportunity she was given today by the court,” he said.

UConn officials have said they can’t comment on whether Veitner faces any school disciplinary action because of federal student privacy laws.

ROCHESTER, Ind. (WNDU) – A former wide receiver for the Notre Dame football team was arrested before his court hearing Tuesday morning.

Kevin Stepherson arrived at the Fulton County Courthouse in Rochester for a violation of his probation. Upon his arrival, he was arrested before stepping foot into the courtroom and taken to the Fulton County Law Enforcement Center.

This comes after multiple run-ins with the law over the last six weeks.

Stepherson was originally arrested for possession of marijuana in August of 2016 when he and four other teammates were pulled over in Fulton County. In March, Stepherson entered a plea to have his charges removed as long as he could stay out of trouble for one year. In June, the court accepted that plea for what’s known as a conditional discharge.

But the former Irish wide receiver, who was kicked off the football team earlier this month, has not stayed out of trouble.

On December 14th, Stepherson was pulled over in Marshall County. He was later charged with possession of marijuana, speeding, and no valid driver’s license. The next day, he was arrested for shoplifting a pair a pair of sweatpants from Macy’s at the University Park Mall in Mishawaka. He was picked up walking out of the store wearing an stolen $59 pair of Nautica sweatpants he allegedly did not purchase. He’s been charged with conversion, a class A misdemeanor from this incident. Both of those incidents were first reported by WNDU.

Then on Friday, Stepherson was arrested again for possession of marijuana, this time in Whitley County.

Fulton County prosecutors first filed a petition to revoke Stepherson’s plea deal for conditional discharge on December 29th and have amended that petition a few times since then; including as recently as Monday, when they filed an amended two petition to terminate his conditional discharge.

Stepherson cannot post bond and will remain behind bars for at least a week while he awaits his next hearing on Tuesday, February 6.

A judge will decide on one of three options: continue Stepherson on the conditional discharge program, put him on probation, or terminate his conditional discharge and sentence him for time behind bars.

If sentenced, Stepherson could face up to a 180-day sentence and serve up to half of that time. Possession of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor.

He still faces charges for possession of marijuana in Marshall and Whitley counties as well as the theft charge out of St. Joseph County.

Despite the August arrest last year, Stepherson did not sit out a single game in 2016. He finished 2nd on the team in receiving.

While it was never acknowledged by Notre Dame, Stepherson was suspended for the first four games of 2017 for what sources tell NewsCenter 16 was a violation of team rules. He eventually returned to action and became one of Notre Dame’s most reliable wide receivers, catching a team high five touchdowns during the most recent football season. Stepherson started three games, catching 19 total passes for 359 yards.