Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown has made headlines once again after appearing on a live stream to take a lie detector test, mere hours after formally pleading not guilty to an attempted murder charge that could see him imprisoned for three decades.
The Serious Charges and Legal Proceedings
Brown faces up to 30 years behind bars following allegations that he fired two shots at another man during a violent confrontation outside a Miami boxing event in May. The incident occurred at an event organised by online influencer Adin Ross at the Brand Risk Warehouse.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers star officially entered his not-guilty plea during a formal arraignment early Monday morning, appearing via Zoom alongside his attorney Mark Eiglarsh. This came after Eiglarsh had initially entered the plea on Brown's behalf last week while demanding a trial by jury.
During a hearing last Wednesday, Brown was granted a $25,000 bond despite prosecutors' efforts to keep him detained before trial. The judge instead placed him under level three house arrest, permitting him to work without curfew but requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device that tracks his movements.
The Surprising Livestream Appearance
In a remarkable turn of events, less than 24 hours after his court appearance, Brown surfaced on a Kick livestream hosted by none other than Adin Ross - the very influencer who organised the Miami boxing event where the shooting incident occurred.
Viewers witnessed the controversial athlete undergoing a lie detector test while interacting with other personalities on the stream, including rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine. Observers noted that Brown appeared "happy" and "healthy" despite his legal predicament.
The questioning focused primarily on Brown's NFL career rather than his ongoing legal battle. When asked if he regretted his dramatic walk-off during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' game against the New York Jets in 2022, Brown bluntly responded "No" - a answer the polygraph examiner reportedly confirmed as truthful.
Background and Defence Strategy
Brown had been in Dubai since the May shooting before being taken into US Marshals custody upon his return. Florida authorities had issued an arrest warrant for second-degree attempted murder in June.
His legal team maintains that Brown acted in self-defence during the altercation. Attorney Mark Eiglarsh stated: "I took this case because I passionately believe in Brown's defence. The actions he was forced to take were solely in self-defence against the alleged victim's violent behaviour."
Brown himself previously claimed that individuals were attempting to "steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me" during the incident. Surveillance footage from the event appeared to show Brown involved in a physical altercation before allegedly producing a firearm.
The case continues to develop, with the next status hearing scheduled for December 22nd as the former Super Bowl champion fights to avoid a potential 30-year prison sentence.
