Father of Slain Toddler Back in Court

(Memphis) Just days after Maurice Brown, Jr. was laid to rest in Memphis, his father was back in court to face new charges of first-degree murder and resisting arrest.

Maurice Brown, Sr. told the judge he had an attorney.

The judge told him he would have to appear in court with that attorney later this month.

“Last week I was asked if there would be additional charges filed and, of course, I couldn’t comment on that because I didn’t know. The police continued their investigation and, obviously, did find additional evidence and so the new charge of murder resulted from finding the body and getting a cause of death,” said Shelby County Prosecutor Jennifer Nichols.

Saturday, friends and family gathered at Progressive Baptist Church to say goodbye to the toddler they affectionately called Junior.

However, the funeral  nearly ended in violence after a man attending the service called out the boy’s father.

“A child was born and lost his life from a father not being a father,” said the man.

Maurice Brown, Sr.’s family became so upset by what they heard they ran out of the church cursing.

Police had to be called in to keep the situation from escalating.

Maurice Brown was already facing charges of child neglect and child endangerment.

He is still being held on a $1 million dollar bond from the original charges.

He will be back on court on July 26.