On July 18, 2016, Brown was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery. Reports indicated that Brown's wife requested police dispatch after Brown became irate and bit her on the arm. Senate President John Alario suspended Brown's committee assignments until charges were resolved. Alario did not suggest that he would push for Brown's resignation. He was arraigned on October 4, 2016, and pleaded not guilty. On January 11, 2017, Brown pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse battery. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but only had to serve two days since the judge suspended the rest of his sentence. The judge also ordered Brown to pay a $300 fine, complete 64 hours of community service, three months of probation, and participate in a domestic violence program.

On November 29, 2015, state Sen. Brown was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery. Brown was arrested for an incident that occurred on November 28, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. He was let out of jail on a $3,000 bond. According to police, the incident began with an argument between Brown and the alleged victim in his hotel room. According to police, the female victim had been romantically involved with the married senator for the past 10 years. Due to the argument, the alleged victim left the hotel room with her female friend and headed for the elevator. While waiting for the elevator, the two women were confronted by Brown, and he began an argument with the woman's friend. The first woman intervened in the argument, at which time Brown allegedly punched her in the right eye. Brown said in an emailed statement that he did not remember everything that happened. According to Brown, a serious car accident in 1991 left him with brain damage, and since then, he has suffered from periodic bouts of short-term memory loss. Brown went on to say, "I apologize to my family and my constituents, and I commit to getting the help I need to resolve the medical issues which I believe contributed to this incident. From the first moment authorities were called I have cooperated fully with them and will continue to do so." On April 8, 2016, Brown's attorney, former state Sen. Ed Murray, entered a plea of not guilty for Brown at the Orleans Parish Criminal Court for a simple battery charge. Brown did not appear at the hearing and was scheduled to stand trial on September 14, 2016. Brown was originally charged with domestic abuse battery, but the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office lessened the charge to simple battery. On September 14, 2016, Brown pleaded no contest to simple battery. He admitted to punching his girlfriend after a football party in November 2015. The judge sentenced him to six months of inactive probation. He was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and misdemeanor court costs.