Bobby Brown Released From Jail

Bobby Brown was released from jail shortly after midnight on Friday (July 7) as scheduled, according to a spokesperson for the Florida's Broward County Sheriff's Office. Brown was sentenced to 75 days in jail on June 12, and given credit for 39 days served for the time he was remanded into custody following Circuit Judge Leonard Feiner's refusal to grant the R&B singer bail while awaiting trial. At the time of sentencing, Brown was also credited with 10 days for good behavior, which the spokesperson said was given to all prisoners by statute, noting that it can be revoked if behavior warrants.

Brown gave officials "absolutely no problems during his incarceration," the spokesperson said. "He was cooperative, and participated in our programs." The spokesperson declined to reveal specific programs in which Brown participated. County officials anticipated a large turnout for Brown's release, because he is a celebrity, but the spokesperson said that his release from North Broward Detention Center in Pompano Beach, went "remarkably smoothly." Brown's wife, Whitney Houston, was present for her husband's release. "I just want to be with my family and my friends," Brown told reporters outside the prison. "I'm going home to spend the summer with my kids and work on my life."

One difference from a normal release was the presence of comedian Chris Rock, who was filming a mock vigil segment for his weekly HBO series, "The Chris Rock Show," outside the prison. It was all good-natured, the sheriff's office spokesperson explained, saying that even he got in on the act. "Chris Rock asked me if he was a free man, and I said, 'He's a free man.' Then he said, 'So, he can do anything he wants?' and I said, 'Well, no... But he can do anything that's legal!'"

--Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.