Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
National
Richard Winton

Defense lawyer calls Chris Brown's accuser 'irate' and 'erratic'

LOS ANGELES _ A lawyer for R&B singer Chris Brown insisted Friday that authorities have no evidence to support a woman's accusation that Brown pointed a gun at her head while she was visiting the performer's Tarzana mansion this week.

At a news conference in a mock courtroom in his downtown office, attorney Mark Geragos told reporters that 25-year-old Baylee Curran called police to Brown's Tarzana home simply because she "got irate when she was asked to leave because she was acting in an erratic manner."

"This is not the first time someone has made up a false accusation against Chris Brown," Geragos said.

Curran has told the Los Angeles Times and other media outlets that Brown pointed a gun at her head while she viewed a diamond necklace during a party at Brown's home, and that she fled.

Brown was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon following a search of his home. He remains free on $250,000 bail.

In the days following Brown's booking, Geragos has gone on the offensive in an effort to undermine his accuser's credibility.

On Friday, the defense lawyer said the LAPD had spoken to six other witnesses, and "none of them supported the story that was told."

Geragos also said that Curran was connected to the mother of Brown's daughter, Royalty, although he declined to elaborate.

Brown previously was involved in a lengthy custody battle with the girl's mother, and it is unclear how the recent accusations might affect his ability to retain custody.

"It is interesting to me that when someone has an incident that supposedly you're frightened to death ... the first place you go is to TMZ," he said. "I think that that speaks volumes."

Geragos said Friday that he was present during the search and saw no guns or drugs recovered from Brown's home.

Brown has been accused of aggressive behavior in the past.

He pleaded guilty to attacking then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 and spent six years on probation. In May 2014, he admitted to violating his probation after assaulting a person outside a Washington hotel.

Brown's former manager, Michael Guirguis, known as "Mike G," filed a lawsuit in June that alleged the singer attacked him. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, contends the singer punched Guirguis four times in the face and neck on May 10.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department said this week that Curran and another woman were wanted for questioning in connection with an October 2013 theft at the Plaza Hotel.

In 2013, Curran also sought a temporary restraining order against a former male roommate, saying he pushed her against the wall of their Burbank apartment. He denied the accusation, telling the court that she was intoxicated and tried to hit his friend. Curran failed to show up in court for a hearing, and the restraining order was dismissed.

In April, she was crowned Miss California Regional 2016 but lost her title by July, according to a statement from pageant organizers. Joshua James, a spokesman for the pageant, said Curran was "dethroned" after an internal inquiry.

Curran and her publicist did not respond to requests for comment.

Pageant organizers said she has been asked several times to return her crown and sash, but she has refused to do so.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.