Former Dallas Cowboy Josh Brent is requesting to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for the rest of his 180-day Dallas County Jail sentence according to several sources familiar with the request.
Brent was sentence to 180 days in jail and 10 years probation on January 24, 2014.
He’s been evaluated for the alcohol, drug and emotional problems he has exhibited in the past as he heads toward probation, the sources said.
“Rehab would help him get more help with those issues,” said Dallas County First Assistant District Attorney Heath Harris. “We’re not going to stand in the way of that.”
At Brent’s trial, Harris asked the jury to sentence Brent to prison since the intoxication manslaughter death of teammate Jerry Brown was a second drunk driving conviction for Brent.
But Harris said this release from jail for rehab would be a matter for the judge and probation officials to decide.
“We want to make sure that anyone placed on probation by a jury or a judge has a chance to be successful,” Harris said.
The rehab treatment would be at an in-patient confinement facility, according to Harris.
State District Judge Robert Burns must approve the request.
Brent made a brief appearance before Burns in court Friday, but Judge Burns entered no orders about the rehab request.
In January, Burns lectured Brent and added the 180-day jail term at sentencing after the jury decided on a sentence of only probation.
“Your actions I think bring shame to the city of Dallas and I think you do a grievous wrong to humanity by killing your friend,” Burns said. “You certainly had a big warning sign that you were on the wrong path with that prior DWI and you chose the path of irresponsibility.”
Burns declined comment Friday.
Brent has made it clear he’d like to play professional football again and people with the Dallas Cowboys have said they would consider it.
Successfully completing rehab could help Brent’s case with the NFL.
Harris said the District Attorney’s office would take no position on Brent returning to football.
“We would never prevent someone on probation from earning a living,” Harris said.
Brent’s jail sentence is due to end on July 22 according to public records.
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