Pop Star Bobby Brown in Trouble with Law

Bobby Brown, currently in the midst of a divorce from Whitney Houston, his 14-year wife, has been sent to jail for failure to pay child support payments. Brown, best known for his hit song "Don't Be Cruel," had been struggling to meet his monthly requirements to Kim Ward, who is the mother of his two children.

The jail sentence is for no specific amount of time, and will end, according to the judge's ruling, once he has paid the $19,000 in late child support money, along with court fees.

Phaedra Parks, an Atlanta attorney representing Brown, said the rhythm-and-blues singer has been struggling to meet his payments, but that the singer was trying to meet his obligations. "We're diligently working on getting those funds available from outside sources," she said. Parks added that she thought it was likely Brown would spend the night in jail.

In October, Brown paid $11,000 in late child support payments to the mother of his children after being threatened with arrest if he returned to Massachusetts. Adam Loomis - of All State Constables - said he served an arrest warrant against Brown, who was watching his daughter perform at a cheerleading competition. Brown had failed to make a court appointment for a child support hearing last October.

Brown has a history of late payments. He currently owes support for January. In June of 2004, Brown was sentenced to 90 days in prison for missing three months of payments. The sentence in that case was suspended after he made a $15,000 payment. And one year ago in March, in Massachusetts for a different cheerleading competition, Brown was hit for minor motor-vehicle violations from 14 years ago.

In an interview with TMZ, Brown's lawyer admitted the former pop star is unable to meet his monetary obligations. "Mr. Brown is not financially able to make the payment in court," she said, and added that she is currently making her "best effort" to work out a deal with the court.