Antonio Brown is filing for custody of his daughter in the wake of the mother of the child accusing the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver of domestic misconduct, according to his family attorney.
Jaclyn Soroka, who represents Brown, said in a statement provided to ESPN that Brown has taken legal action to “ensure that his daughter is protected by seeking majority timesharing and decision-making authority.”
Wiltrice Jackson, 30, accused Brown of pushing her to the ground in January when she asked for payment for the daughter’s hair appointment, according to a police report filed in Hollywood, Fla., where Brown has a home.
Jackson, the mother of the child, said that in the Jan. 17 dispute over the money, Brown shoved her with both hands, sending her falling back onto the ground. Jackson contacted police the following day, but Brown was not charged in the incident. Police gave Jackson a brochure on how to file a restraining order against Brown, but said they could not charge him because they were not contacted on the day of the alleged incident.
Soroka, who was not Brown’s attorney in that case, said Jackson has made Brown the “subject of misleading and inaccurate headlines of ‘domestic dispute.’” In the statement to ESPN, Soroka said Jackson “inappropriately involved the minor child by creating an unnecessary scene at Mr. Brown’s residence wherein she demanded funds from Mr. Brown despite the fact that he provides substantial financial child support to the mother.”
Soroka noted that Jackson “recently” had been denied additional child support from Brown.
“Mr. Brown loves his daughter and the recent unwarranted press in connection with the mother’s appalling actions is a travesty for his daughter, who remains and will always be his first and foremost priority,” Soroka said.
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.
