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'Maury' Guests Can't Wait for Taping, Get Arrested in Hotel Fight

By Jenny Tsay, Esq. on April 04, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

While most guests on the "Maury Show" save the drama for when the cameras are rolling, a Chicago couple was arrested at their hotel for fighting before taping even began.

John Coley, 46, and Shantae McGhee-Brown, 25, were both arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, though Coley's mischief charge has since been dropped. McGhee-Brown is also charged with interfering with an officer, according to The Hour.

The couple was slated to appear on "Maury" because Coley allegedly slept with McGhee-Brown's mother. That sounds like quite a domestic predicament, but now the couple will have some legal affairs to deal with as well.

Disorderly Conduct for Hotel Brawl

In general, disorderly conduct can include several types of obnoxious or outrageous conduct. Disorderly conduct charges can be brought by police to keep the peace when people are behaving badly, but there's no serious public danger present.

Under the laws of Connecticut, where "Maury" is recorded, disorderly conduct can occur when a person intentionally causes inconvenience, annoyance, or recklessly creates a risk by engaging in various types of behavior, including:

  • Fighting or violent, threatening behavior;
  • Offensive or disorderly conduct that annoys or interferes with another person;
  • Making unreasonable noise; or
  • Obstructing vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

The "Maury" couple was arrested for fighting in their hotel room. McGhee-Brown allegedly threw a vase and broke a table during the fight, according to The Hour. It's unclear whether anyone was hurt, but it does sound like the altercation caused some damage to hotel property.

Setting Bond Amounts

After their arrest, both parties were held overnight in jail on a $100,000 bond. However, a judge lowered Coley's bond to $10,000 -- an amount set without prejudice, pending further investigation into his criminal history, reports The Hour. This means that the bail amount can still be litigated and may change at a later date.

When it's up to a judge to determine a bail amount, the judge will consider:

  • The seriousness of the crime;
  • The suspect's criminal record;
  • The danger that the suspect's release may impose on the community; and
  • The suspect's ties to the community, family, or if that individual is employed.

For Coley, he was previously convicted of murder in 1998 and released from prison in 2010, according to statements he made in court. However, The Hour reports that Coley was also arrested for murder in 2012, but that arrest didn't show up on a background check. Depending on the circumstances, Coley's bail amount could change if new arrests or convictions come to light at his April 10 court date.

Looks like the "Maury" crew made an oops -- the couple was actually supposed to be booked at two different hotels, probably to avoid a situation just like this.

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