A judge has ordered Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent to wear an electronic monitor while free on an intoxication manslaughter charge in a car crash that killed a teammate.
The judge modified conditions for Brent's continued release and also lowered bond from $500,000 to $100,000 during Brent's Tuesday court appearance.
George Milner, Brent's defense attorney, said in court that he believes the only reason his client's bond was set so high initially was due to him being a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
"[He should be treated the way] anybody else gets treated. And that's all I've been asking for since that ... Sunday when they first set that bond," Milner said, while leading his client out of the courtroom Tuesday.
Prosecutors had requested Brent wear an electronic ankle bracelet while he is free pending trial in the Dec. 8 one-car crash that killed friend and Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown Jr.
The ankle monitor must be in place by Friday. It will track Brent's location, as well as detect any alcohol in his body.
Driving a car or having an alcoholic drink of any kind would violate Brent's bond agreement and could result in his bond being forfeited, sending him to jail.
Brent did not have a valid driver license at the time of the crash and cannot drive. If he gets a Texas driver license, his vehicle will be fitted with an interlock system that would test his breath for alcohol consumption before the car could be driven.
The initial $500,000 bond was determined by the Irving Police Department, not the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, according to District Attorney Craig Watkins. Watkins said that while he does not condemn the original bond amount, a $100,000 bond for a person charged with intoxication manslaughter is consistent with the county's bond schedule.
"In our current environment, in our criminal justice system, we want to treat everyone the same," Watkins said. "Just because he's a Cowboy doesn't mean his bond should be $500,000. For a normal citizen with this same type of crime, their bond would be more in line with $100,000."
Brent was on the sidelines Sunday at Cowboys Stadium as Dallas beat Pittsburgh 27-24 in overtime.
His ankle monitor would not prevent him from traveling with the team if he intends to do so.
Brent has been placed on the NFL reserve/non-football illness list and won't play again this season.
Irving police are still investigating the case. The district attorney's office has not yet received a file on the investigation.
