Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent has been indicted by a grand jury in Texas on one charge of intoxication manslaughter .
Brent was awaiting new of the indicted after he ran over a curb on December 8, flipping his car and killing Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown. Following the incident Brent was released from jail on $100,000 bond.
Dallas County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Debbie Denmon announced the indictment on Wednesday afternoon.
When police discovered the drunken Josh Brent, they claimed he was speeding before hitting a curb and flipping his vehicle. Fellow teammate and vehicle passenger Jerry Brown was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Brent’s alcohol level was 0.18 at the time of his arrest, more than twice the legal limit. According to several experts, a man Brent’s size would need to drink upwards of 14 alcoholic beverages to reach such a high blood alcohol level.
If convicted, Josh Brent could face up to 20 years in prison. A more lenient court could also place Brent on probation, forgoing jail time all together.
The Dallas DA’s office has not yet set a date for Josh Brent’s upcoming criminal trial.
Following his intoxicated accident, the Dallas Cowboy’s allowed Brent to watch the teams following game from the sideline, a move that angered many observers who felt that the NFL has become too lenient on troublemakers. Following his single game sideline appearance, the Dallas Cowboys announced that Brent would be banned for the remained of the 2012-2013 NFL season.
Nobody else was injured during the drunken ordeal, although one life taken may be enough to effectively end Brent’s freedom for the next two decades.
Do you think probation is enough to teach Josh Brent a lesson, or is prison time and the end of his NFL career a more suitable punishment?
