Former Ohio State and Oakland Raiders defensive back Damon Arnette is facing legal trouble again. According to multiple reports, Arnette — a former first-round NFL Draft selection by Oakland and All-Big Ten second-team selection at Ohio State — was arrested in Richardson, Texas, on Jan. 6 and charged for unlawful carrying of a firearm and possession of less than a gram of methamphetamine.
The arrest, which was not brought into public eye until Feb. 26, is being contested by Arnette’s defense team, who is arguing that the former NFL player was taking a prescribed and “lawful medication,” and should not have been pulled over and interrogated by police.
“Legal counsel for Mr. Arnette stated that the recent report that he was arrested for possession of methamphetamines and firearms is simply incorrect,” Arnette’s legal counsel wrote in a statement released on Feb. 26. “Our client, at the time of the stop, was unable to provide law enforcement with his prescription for a lawful medication. The arrest was predicated on Mr. Arenette being unable to prove the medication was prescribed.
“Had he been able to do so at the time of the stop, there would have been no arrest for either the controlled substance or the firearms. Our offices are working with the local law enforcement to rectify this matter before any charges are brought by the District Attorney’s office.”
Regardless of the validity of the charges, the arrest marks just one of many legal and personal troubles Arnette has faced in the last several years.
Arnette played in 13 games for the Raiders and recorded 29 tackles before he was released by the team in November of 2021 after a video of the former Buckeye surfaced that showed him brandishing a gun and threatening to kill someone.
Arnette was then given a second chance and signed by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, but was released just nine days later after he was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and two counts of possession of controlled substances after he pointed a gun to a Las Vegas Strip valet on Jan. 28, 2022. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor assault and weapon charges and was sentenced to 50 hours of community service, a $2,000 fine and a forfeit of his weapon.
Then, in July of 2022 in Miami, Fla., Arnette was arrested for a second time for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license. He was later released on a $2,000 bond.
Now, the 27-year-old Arnette faces his third weapon and drug charge, putting him at risk of more severe legal trouble.
Prior to his short NFL career and legal issues, Arnette played cornerback at Ohio State from 2015-19, recording 140 tackles (four for loss), 22 pass deflections, five interceptions, a defensive touchdown and one forced fumble. He started three seasons for the Buckeyes, including his final year in 2019 where he helped Ohio State finish as the top-ranked defense in Ryan Day’s first season as head coach
