HOUSTON – A woman who initially said she was locked in a closet for days and sexually assaulted by rapper Cartel Bo — also known as Warren Brown — has now taken back her allegations, according to his defense team.
But prosecutors said she may have done it under pressure while Judge Kelli Johnson is deciding whether to give Brown a bond.
A photo shown in court Monday revealed bruises covering the woman’s legs.
Prosecutors say they came from beatings while Brown’s defense team claims they were caused by rough sex and her work as a dancer.
“The allegations are very salacious, but allegations are just that,” said defense attorney Samuel Milledge II.
What prosecutors say happened
Brown is accused of kidnapping the mother of his children and holding her inside a closet at a home on Darby Retreat Lane in Cypress for several days in July. Harris County Constable Precinct 4 investigators say she escaped wearing only her underwear and handcuffs.
She flagged down a neighbor and claimed to have been sexually assaulted, according to a search warrant. Inside the home, investigators found a urine-soaked mattress and rotten food, among other evidence they allege indicated a person had been restrained without consent or by force.
When Brown got arrested during a traffic stop on July 25 on warrants involving an alleged assault of the same woman, she was able to escape from the home only after realizing he was gone, according to court records.
She later was found at a Waffle House, according to the search warrant, and taken to the hospital by EMS.
As part of a video statement she provided to the defense team, she repeatedly claimed to have been pressured by law enforcement to make a statement and pressured by EMS to go to the hospital.
She also signed a notarized affidavit of non-prosecution, according to Milledge, which was provided to the court on Monday.
Why prosecutors say the recantation may not be genuine
Prosecutors allege that before Monday’s hearing, Brown used another inmate’s credentials to make jail calls to the victim — urging her to sign an affidavit of non-prosecution and record a video statement recanting her claims.
The calls were not played in court and Milledge said he still needs to listen to them to verify if it’s his client on the phone.
Brown’s defense team relied heavily during the bond hearing on the victim recanting and claims she was forced by law enforcement to make her original statement while under the influence, according to what she has allegedly told the defense team.
Prosecutors also allege the victim is financially dependent on Brown and that the two have a pattern of domestic violence.
Expert says recantations in domestic violence cases are common
Houston trauma therapist Chau Nguyen said what’s happening in this case is not unusual.
“It’s actually a lot more common than you think, and it’s actually quite alarming,” Nguyen said. “We do know in cases of domestic violent when two people are involved and then law enforcement gets involved and the victim shares his or her testimony, oftentimes that testimony gets reneged, recanted. They soften the testimony, they don’t want to talk to prosecutors anymore.”
Nguyen explained what typically keeps victims from leaving abusive situations.
“We always look at two barriers to leaving an emotionally domestic violence situation. And those barriers oftentimes involve kids and money,” she said.
Prosecutors noted the victim is financially dependent on Brown.
Where the bond hearing stands
Brown’s defense team is pushing for bond in this case and is pointing to the victim’s recantation as evidence the alleged crimes didn’t happen, while also claiming the state didn’t prove he’s a danger to the community, law enforcement, and the victim.
The defense also noted Brown has a criminal history, and despite cutting off his ankle monitor and fleeing to Miami while on bond during a past case, they said he otherwise has shown up for all of his court settings.
Prosecutors urged Judge Johnson to deny bond — arguing that if Brown is released, the only question is what happens to the victim next.
“We have to let these things play out. I ask everybody to not rush to judgment,” Milledge said.
A decision from Judge Johnson is pending.