Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Joshua Price-Brent, 24, was arrested by Irving, Texas police and charged with intoxication manslaughter after an accident that occurred in the early morning hours on Saturday, December 8, 2012. Per authorities, Price-Brent was allegedly speeding when his vehicle hit a curb and flipped over before resting on the middle of the service road, killing his passenger and teammate Jerry Brown, Jr. a linebacker on the team's practice squad. According to FOXSportsSouthwest.com, the two had joined a dozen teammates Friday night at a Dallas club "Privae" where comedian Shawn Wayans was appearing.
When police arrived on the scene, Price-Brent was pulling Brown, 25, from his 2007 Mercedes, which had caught on fire. Brown was unresponsive, transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Police suspected that alcohol may have been involved and asked Price-Brent to perform field sobriety tests. Based upon police observation and the results of the field sobriety tests, police arrested Price-Brent. He was taken to the hospital for a mandatory blood draw and also treated for minor scrapes. The results from the blood test will take several weeks. As a result of Brown's death, Price-Brent was subsequently charged with intoxication manslaughter. He was released Sunday on a $500,000 bond. The investigation in currently ongoing. If convicted, Price-Brent faces two to 20 years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
Brent released a statement on Saturday through his agent, Peter Schaeffer, expressing his grief for the loss of his close friend and teammate Jerry Brown and his family and friends stating “I will live with this horrific and tragic loss every day for the rest of my life. My prayers are with his family, our teammates and his friends at this time." Brent's attorney, suggested that ongoing construction in the area of the crash may have played a role in the accident. Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones also expressed his prayers and sympathies to Jerry Brown's family and friends.
Price-Brent was also arrested in February 2009 near an Illinois campus for driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license and speeding, for which he pleaded guilty in June 2009, and received 60 days in jail, two years probation, 200 hours of community service and a $2,000 fine. Under a plea bargain, one count of aggravated DUI/no valid driver’s license charges were dropped. Accordingly to court records, Price-Brent completed his probation in July 2011.
Texas Penal Code Section 49.08
Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.08, intoxication manslaughter is considered a felony of the second degree and deals with "recklessly causing the death of another while intoxicated" by accident or mistake. An intoxication felony conviction in Texas carries a two to 20 year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine.
Texas Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter in Texas or are facing DWI (driving while intoxicated) charges, you should contact a Texas criminal defense attorney immediately to represent you. Imhoff & Associates, PC-Criminal Attorneys specialize in defending clients charged with intoxication manslaughter and DWI/drug offenses. Your Imhoff intoxication manslaughter/DWI attorney will vigorously represent you by reviewing all police and accident reports and BAC and field sobriety tests raising strong defenses that there were mistakes such as improper calibrations in the breathalyzer machine, contaminated blood or urine samples or your Miranda or other constitutional rights were violated to get your charges reduced to a lesser crime or get your case closed based on individual case circumstances.