Darius McCrary, best known for his role as Eddie Winslow on Family Matters, had his request for bail denied during his initial court appearance on Wednesday in Southern California.
The actor, 50, has been in a San Diego-area jail for the past 10 days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents took him into custody on October 5.
Judge Rules Actor a Flight Risk
Authorities revealed that McCrary was arrested in connection with a felony warrant issued in Michigan.
At the time of his detention, he was attempting to enter Mexico from the United States.
The judge ruled that he remained a flight risk, leading to the denial of his bail request.
Initially, McCrary expressed a desire to represent himself, forgoing the help of a court-appointed lawyer.
However, the judge assigned a public defender to assist him in the case.
Within the next 30 days, authorities plan to extradite McCrary back to Michigan to face charges stemming from a missed court date related to unpaid child support.
Conflicting Accounts of His Time in Tijuana
There have been mixed explanations regarding why McCrary was in the Tijuana area.
Prosecutors reported that his agent said the actor was scouting real estate opportunities, while his public defender claimed he was working on a charitable housing project called the Esperanza program.
A representative for McCrary told People that he should not be considered a flight risk because he has no ties to the Tijuana area.
The rep added that the actor had accidentally crossed into Mexico due to a “mix-up” about where to meet his partner for the charity initiative.
McCrary intends to contest the case in Michigan, where he is scheduled to appear in court on November 14.
Legal History and Past Family Disputes
McCrary has faced legal challenges before, particularly following his split from ex-wife Tammy Brawner.
The couple filed for divorce in 2017 and finalized it in 2019, with McCrary ordered to pay $1,366 per month in child support.
Full custody of their daughter, Zoe, then three years old, was granted to Brawner, who is also an actress and producer and once played for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Court documents revealed that McCrary was required to attend alcohol and drug abuse programs, as well as a batterers’ intervention program over the course of a year.
Supervised visitation with his daughter was initially set for six hours every Sunday for the first 10 visits, after which the court would review and potentially adjust the arrangement.