Judge denies motion to dismiss charges against Brown

DECATUR - A DeKalb County state court judge denied a motion Monday to drop charges against singer Bobby Brown that stemmed from a 1996 traffic stop. <br> <br> The 33-year-old Brown is accused of failing to appear in court on the charges. He did not go to a hearing in 1997 on charges of driving under the influence, speeding, failing to maintain a lane and having no proof of insurance. <br> <br> Brown&#39;s attorney Xavier Dicks says the 1997 charges happened too long ago and the memory of any potential witnesses would be impared. The judge denied his motion. <br> <br> Brown appeared in court with his wife, singer Whitney Houston. The two held hands and talked quietly. <br> <br> Brown remains free on bond. He was arrested in Atlanta earlier this month on charges of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, speeding and having no driver&#39;s license or proof of insurance. <br> <br> After he was released from the Atlanta jail on $1,300 bond, he was transferred to DeKalb County to face the old charges. <br> <br> A trial date is set for January 21 at 9 a.m.