Leading trainer Brown given conditional discharge after guilty harassment plea

Trainer Chad Brown pleaded guilty on Monday to a reduced charge of harassment stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident at his home in Saratoga Springs this summer.

Brown was facing a misdemeanour criminal obstruction-of-breathing charge, but the reduced charge is a violation and he "will be sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge", according to local reports.

The Saratoga County district attorney's office "offered the lesser charge of harassment in the second degree”, with Brown's acceptance of the non-criminal charge avoiding a trial.

Brown must also undergo "evaluation by an accredited behavioural health professional" and is "subject to a two-year order of protection that prohibits him from contacting the alleged victim”. He was also "fined $250 with a $120 surcharge".

According to published reports, Brown issued a statement through his attorney and said: "While I'm satisfied to put this unfortunate incident behind me and pleased that as a result I will not have a criminal record, I regret details of my personal life being made public through the media.

"For this, I apologise to my family, friends, clients, and co-workers. I can and will do better in the future. I greatly appreciate all who have supported me throughout this ordeal."

The four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, who sent out Goodnight Olive to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland this month, previously entered a not guilty plea.

Reports stated that on the evening of August 17, Brown pushed a female acquaintance down a flight of stairs at his home, pinned her to the ground, and tried to choke her before throwing her out of the house. He was arrested and released on $2,500 cash bail.

The next day at Brown's arraignment, where the trainer was pictured wearing a Pink Floyd t-shirt, camouflage shorts and slippers, his attorney said the woman broke into Brown's house in the middle of the night and that his client was defending himself.

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