Former Cincinnati Bengals' Chris Henry, Guilty Or Misunderstood?
 Friday, April 4th, 2008

One false rape allegation by a prostitute/murderess:  check.  A Northern Kentucky prosecutor who implied Chris Henry's guilt in the media before a case was built:  check.  Getting his shoes searched for speeding:  check.  Getting pulled over, then arrested for a faulty breathalyzer test:  check.  A laundry list of unfounded allegations:  check.  Having them all reported to his employer:  that really sucks.

Chris Henry was relieved of his position as Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver by the NFL yesterday after his fifth arrest in a period of three years.  Henry pleaded not guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging, stemming from a police complaint filed that Henry punched an 18-year-old man and broke his car window with a beer bottle.  But because of his previous suspensions and the NFL's strict conduct policy, Bengals coach Mike Brown released a statement yesterday that the kid with the "potentially bright career" had to be let go.  Henry's attorney maintains he has a "different set of facts."  Chris told police this is a case of mistaken identity.

At a glance, some might be inclined to think the system has been too lenient in the past.  Upon closer inspection, though, Chris Henry's life for the past three years reveals an extremely talented football player and young man who's made mistakes, admitted to them, and did his time for them--but was also haunted by false accusations, press speculation, and getting pulled over a heck of a lot.

Chris is in police custody, and bond was set at $51,000 by Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard yesterday who reviewed Henry's record and referred to the 24-year-old as a "one-man crime wave," requiring electronic monitoring if bail is posted.

One-man crime wave might be a little harsh.

Henry's first run-in with the law was in December 2005 when he was pulled over for speeding in N. Kentucky, and police found two small bags of marijuana in his shoes.  He attended a drug rehabilitation program for 28 days and paid fines and court costs.  At the time, he was only 22 years old, and had been drafted by the NFL just a few months before from West Virginia University, where he was a student and football player.

Originally from Louisiana, Chris had extended family that was severely affected by the August 2005 devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  He invited them to relocate closer to him, even to move in with him, which they did.  He was supporting them financially, training for the requirements of a professional athlete, and trying to be a college-age kid all at the same time.

In January of '06, probably his most damning charge, Henry was arrested in Florida after a police officer reported seeing him with a group that looked ready to fight outside an Orlando nightclub.  According to the officer's report, Henry pointed a pistol at someone in the group, and when the officer ordered him to drop the gun, Henry threw the 9mm in the back of his limousine.  The policeman--who was directing traffic at the time--reported that he "pulled Henry away from the limo and pushed him to the ground," and took Chris into custody.  He was charged with three offenses,  one a felony, and pleaded not guilty.  Henry was offered a plea to change his entry to guilty on one count of carrying a concealed weapon, as Circuit Judge John Kest acknowledged Henry had no prior convictions and the other two charges could be dropped.  He consented, and served 100 hours of community service, attended a firearms safety class, and forfeited the weapon in question.

He's quiet, and polite, teammates said.  He shows up on time for every meeting.  He calls people "sir."  He's so talented.

In April of 2006, Henry was arrested after letting minors drink at a hotel room he'd rented.  Witnesses said Henry was not drinking and did not buy the alcohol, but under the city ordinance called the "keg law," Henry was responsible for a misdemeanor violation.

One month later, Kenton County Prosecutor Ken Easterling told various Cincinnati media outlets that Henry was involved in the investigation of a sex crime.

"He's believed to be involved in a sexual attack," Easterling told NBC's Cincinnati affiliate WLWT.  "Chris Henry has worn out his welcome.  You've got to obey the law or you will go to jail.  Unfortunately, he can't understand that."

But Covington police later reported there was no sufficient proof and that the victim could face charges of filing a false police report.  Why Easterling went to the media first is a mystery to me.  The "victim" was an 18-year-old Covington woman, Monica Beamon, a prostitute who five months later stabbed a 52-year old client to death over $30.  She also admitted she lied about Henry raping her.

On a Saturday around 1 am in June of '06, Henry was pulled over by an Ohio state trooper and asked to take a breathalyzer test.  He voluntarily breathed into the machine, and was charged with drunk driving.  But the breathalyzer used at the scene - which registered Chris at .012 above the legal level - was later determined to be faulty.

In January of 2007, Henry pled guilty to the two charges stemming from the hotel/alcohol incident.  Prosecutor Easterling pushed for jailtime, and it was granted - Henry got 88 days.

"Looking at his history and the amount of times he's gone before other courts and not gotten jail time, the reason we sought jail time was to send a very clear message to him that this is going to be the response every time you get in trouble in our community," Easterling said.

Marvin Frazier, Henry's agent, said he will continue to "try to work to help Chris," and thanked Mike Brown and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis "for all they have done to try to help this young man; many of them have gone beyond the call of duty."

Chris has posted bond and has been fitted for an electronic monitoring bracelet, and is expected to be released from jail today.  The college student who was assaulted does not know Chris Henry, and police obtained the information from college students who said Henry was at a party in the apartment complex that night.  But with a brewing media circus, and after public apologies to the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell in the past, the latest allegations against him--in combination with his record--proved to be too much for the Bengals.

Comments > >