Bobby Brown Pleads Not Guilty in DUI Case

Whitney Houston's widow has decided to fight drunk-driving charges

By Josh Grossberg, Claudia Rosenbaum Apr 16, 2012 5:20 PMTags
Bobby Brown Jackson Lee/Splash News

Bobby Brown's latest prerogative? To prove his innocence in a court of law.

The former New Jack Swinger entered a plea of not guilty to DUI-related charges today in a Los Angeles courtroom stemming from last month's drunk-driving arrest.

Brown was popped on March 26 after he was pulled over in the San Fernando Valley for talking on his cell phone, and cops suspected he had been drinking. After flunking a field sobriety test, he was taken into custody and later charged with three misdemeanors—driving under the influence, driving with a blood alcohol greater than 0.08 and driving with a suspended license.

The "Don't Be Cruel" singer was not in court but his attorney, Tiffany Feder, entered the plea on his behalf.

A pretrial hearing has been set for May 16, and Commissioner Rebecca Owens ordered Brown not to drink alcohol in the interim—a requirement the legal eagle later tried to get dropped to no avail.

After prosecutor Diego Edber objected to the request, saying it was a "matter of public safety" that the alcohol restriction remain in place since Brown was 1 1/2 times over the legal limit and had a history of excessive substance abuse, Owens agreed and did not change her ruling.

Feder subsequently told reporters after the proceeding that Bobby was "doing well," but as for whether he'll show up for the next court date, she said she'll leave that decision up to him.