At his first court appearance, Andre Boggs grinned widely for news cameras. On Friday, that grin was replaced by tears. Watch video
NEW BRUNSWICK -- Andre Boggs' first court appearance on robbery charges last week was the first time he'd ever been in legal trouble in his life, according to his lawyer.
So when an array of news cameras started snapping pictures of him, shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, he lashed out -- a huge grin that was splayed across the Web, a lasting image of the accusations against Boggs and other former Rutgers football players.
In a photograph from last week, Andre Boggs is seen grinning for news cameras. Dismissed Rutgers football player Andre Boggs is charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, burglary while armed and attempted burglary while armed as he appears in Superior Court in front of judge Dennis V. Nieves in New Brunswick ,NJ 9/9/15 (Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) At his bail reduction hearing Friday, the facial expressions were gone, replaced by tears.
"I took that as nervousness," said Judge Dennis Nieves. "I don't expect him to act like an adult. He's still a kid."
His lawyer, Jim Donohue, said Boggs, 20, was angry about the cameras and felt like a "circus sideshow." It was the first time he'd been in the media for anything other than his outstanding performance on a football field.
"He went from stardom to fighting for his life," Donohue said.
MORE: Lawyer for ex-Rutgers football player: 'Cases like these have warts all over'
Friday's proceedings were at times emotional. Boggs' mother, Danielle Beckett, sobbed during and after the hearing. In a show of support, about a dozen of Boggs' friends and family stood up in court when Donohue said Boggs had deep ties to the community and was unlikely to flee if he met bail.
As Donohue read aloud a letter from a 12-year-old whom Boggs had mentored, Boggs dried his tears with his green prison jumpsuit.
Nieves will issue a ruling in the coming hours or days on bail, which on Friday morning stood at $600,000.
Prosecutors have said that two co-defendants have identified Boggs as an assailant in three home invasions on and around the Rutgers campus. Donohue said the victims and the co-defendants can't be trusted, and Boggs maintains his innocence.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.