- Darius McCrary, known for his role in ‘Family Matters,’ was denied bail following a court appearance on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
- He was arrested 10 days prior by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border as a fugitive from justice.
- McCrary faces an out-of-state felony warrant from Michigan for failure to appear in court regarding unpaid child support.
- The actor will remain in a San Diego jail and will be extradited to Michigan within 30 days to face the charges.
McCrary Deemed a Flight Risk by Court
Darius McCrary, the 49-year-old actor famous for playing Eddie Winslow on the classic sitcom ‘Family Matters,’ has been denied bail and will remain in custody following his recent arrest. A San Diego judge made the ruling during McCrary’s first court appearance on Wednesday, agreeing with prosecutors that the actor poses a flight risk.
The decision comes after McCrary was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol on October 5 while crossing into the United States from Mexico. The arrest was made based on an outstanding felony warrant issued in Michigan.
The Michigan Warrant and Extradition
The legal troubles for McCrary stem from a failure to appear in a Michigan court for a case concerning alleged unpaid child support. During the hearing, McCrary, who initially opted to represent himself, was appointed a public defender by the judge. He is now being held in a San Diego jail and is set to be extradited to Michigan within the next 30 days to address the warrant.
Conflicting reports emerged in the courtroom regarding McCrary’s presence in Tijuana. Prosecutors stated that the actor’s agent claimed he was scouting real estate. In contrast, McCrary’s public defender and a representative asserted he was in Mexico for philanthropic reasons, volunteering with the “Esperanza program” to build homes for unhoused individuals.
His representative, Ann Barlow, told PEOPLE that McCrary is not a flight risk and has no ties to Tijuana, claiming he crossed the border by mistake while trying to meet his charity partner.
A History of Legal and Financial Disputes
This is not McCrary’s first encounter with legal issues related to his family. His divorce from ex-wife Tammy Brawner was finalized in 2019, resulting in a court order for him to pay $1,366 per month in child support for their daughter, Zoey.
The divorce agreement granted Brawner, a former Harlem Globetrotter, full legal and physical custody. McCrary was also ordered to attend alcohol/drug abuse and batterers’ intervention classes. Past court documents from 2018 included allegations from Brawner that McCrary had injured their young daughter, which McCrary denied.
As he awaits extradition, Darius McCrary has another court date scheduled for November 14.