Judge declines to raise bond for state Sen. Troy Brown following second arrest

An Orleans Parish judge declined to increase the bond for state Sen. Troy Brown on a simple battery count for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the eye last year in New Orleans, despite the lawmaker's subsequent arrest at his Geismar home last month on suspicion of biting his wife.

Criminal District Judge Camille Buras on Wednesday ordered Brown's $5,000 commercial surety bond to remain intact, denying a request from Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office to increase it to $25,000.

Appearing with his attorney, state Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, Brown was ordered to sign a new stay-away order regarding the girlfriend. He is slated for trial Sept. 14.

Brown, 44, declined to comment after the brief hearing, in which neither Murray nor prosecutors argued the matter.

Read more: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20160804/WIRE/160809867/1319?Title=Judge-declines-to-raise-bond-for-state-Sen-Troy-Brown-following-second-arrest