Darius McCrary remains in custody after a judge denied him bail during his first court appearance since being arrested earlier this month at the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to People, the Family Matters actor, 49, appeared before a San Diego judge on Wednesday, October 15, ten days after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers apprehended him while crossing back into the United States.
His arrest stemmed from an outstanding felony warrant in Michigan tied to unpaid child support.
At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutors argued McCrary was a flight risk, pointing to the fact that he was taken into custody while traveling between Mexico and the United States.
The judge agreed and ordered that McCrary remain held in a San Diego jail without bail until Michigan authorities extradite him, a process that must take place within 30 days.
Initially, McCrary told the court he wanted to represent himself. However, the judge appointed him a public defender.
Inside the courtroom, prosecutors cited statements from McCrary’s agent suggesting the actor had been in Tijuana to look at real estate. In response, his attorney claimed he was in the region volunteering with a charity building homes for people experiencing homelessness.
McCrary’s representative, Ann Barlow, also disputed the idea that the actor posed a flight risk. She previously stated that McCrary has “no ties” to Tijuana and described the incident as an accident.
According to Barlow, McCrary had been scheduled to meet his partner with the Esperanza International program, an organization that builds housing for those in need, and mistakenly crossed into Mexico. She added that McCrary “plans to continue to fight his case in Michigan.”
The latest arrest is connected to ongoing legal issues that began earlier this year. Prosecutors in Michigan allege McCrary owes more than $95,000 in unpaid child support.
In June 2024, a bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court. McCrary later filed documents claiming he had not been properly notified of the hearing.
This is not the first time the actor has faced child support disputes. In 2019, his divorce from ex-wife Tammy Brawner resulted in court orders requiring monthly support payments, mandatory counseling, and restricted visitation with their daughter.
McCrary’s next court date is scheduled for November 14. Until then, he will remain behind bars in San Diego while awaiting extradition.