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Prosecutors drop child abuse charges against Brian Blair

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Brian Blair and his wife, Toni, have been married 22 years and have two sons, Brett and Bradley.

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune
and ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2009

Updated: 07/02/2009 04:19 pm

Related Links

• Son was aggressor, officials say
• Previous: Blair arrested
• Hear the 911 call
• Brian Blair through the years
• State Attorney's memo
• Blair is a victim, friend says

  Brian Blair

TAMPA - Former Commissioner Brian Blair may have thrown the first punch in his Father's Day scrape with his 17-year-old son Brett, but the teen was the aggressor.

That was the conclusion of prosecutors that led them today to drop child abuse charges lodged against Blair.

Speaking to reporters at his attorney's office, Blair said he hasn't seen his sons in 10 days. The boys have been vacationing with his wife, Toni. After Blair's press conference, the Department of Children & Families said the family was free to reunite immediately.

Prosecutors said that Blair could argue that he was only disciplining his sons for breaking curfew in the 4 a.m. scuffle. State law allows parents to use corporal punishment to discipline children as long as it isn't excessive.

They also point out that Blair took the brunt of the injuries in the fight with sons Brett, 17, and Bradley, 14; though none suffered by anyone was considered "substantial or excessive."

While he maintains he didn't start throwing punches at his sons when he first confronted them, he said that his oldest son "reacted to my unhappiness in an unexpected way" and he had to defend himself.
"Teenagers are teenagers, and things will happen sometimes," Blair said.

In a memo outlining the decision to drop the case Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters said testimony would likely show the two boys and two house guests left the Blair home after the parents fell asleep.
""They returned home at 4 a.m. to very angry parents," she said.

"The defendant began to discipline the victim (Brett) (first verbally and then physically), and the incident was escalated by the conduct of both victims (by repeatedly punching the defendant).
She said there is no evidence to refute that conclusion.

Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said her office would have no further comment.

Blair was arrested June 21 and charged with two counts of child abuse after a scuffle broke out between him and his two teenage sons, authorities said.

The memo said Blair was in the kitchen cooking salmon when the boys and two houseguests returned. Blair and Brett got into an argument and Brett walked away.

When the boy returned to the kitchen to get something to drink, witnesses said Blair continued to yell at him, pushed him, punched him once in the face and then put him in an arm lock.

Bradley jumped on his dad and began hitting him before being pulled off by his mother and the two friends. Witnesses said Blair hit Bradley with a closed fist on his head for punching him.

When Bradley called 911 he said his mother, brother and father were fighting. In a second call he said "my brother's gone crazy and stuff."

Peters said witnesses said Brett had anger issues with his father and was suspended from school for aggressive behavior.

Brett told deputies he wouldn't take being "disrespected" by his father, especially in front of his friends.
"In reviewing the totality of the incident, Brett Blair was more aggressive and hit Brian Blair many more times," Peters wrote.

The Blair boys weren't seriously hurt and had minor bruises and injuries, according to authorities.
Deputies said Brett had some redness to his hands and Bradley had redness on his neck and a bump on the head.

Brian Blair was bleeding from his earlobe had a swollen face and was treated at Tampa General Hospital for a chest contusion and abrasions to his back.

Blair said "we can all learn from this," and that he and his wife will talk more about the events of that night when they're side-by-side.

He says he's since heard from other parents who shared their stories raising teenagers, and he talked about his passion for mentoring children.

"Sometimes, the most difficult children to mentor are your own," he said.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

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