Former Ohio State Buckeyes star cornerback Damon Arnette seemed to have a bright future ahead of him when he was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, but his career was quickly derailed by off-the-field issues, and it sounds like he’s now dealing with another one.
According to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Damon Arnette was arrested last month on drug and gun charges.
“A cautionary tale: Ex-#Raiders first-round pick CB Damon Arnette was arrested on Jan. 6 at 3:30 am and charged with possession of less than a gram of meth and unlawful carrying of a firearm, per me and @HollowayNFLN. The previously unreported arrest was in Richardson, TX,” Rapoport said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
From the legal counsel for Damon Arnette comes an explanation: https://t.co/MJtiGBiMXc pic.twitter.com/wd3fi8mhqi
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2024
This is not Arnette’s first legal troubles since entering the NFL. The former Ohio State star was released by the Raiders in November of 2021 after a video surfaced showing him waving around firearms and making death threats
Just a few months later, Arnette was arrested in late January of 2022 and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances.
Needless to say, the latest arrest led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Man I hate the path he’s gone down. One of my favorite players, sucks to see. https://t.co/xXKpBWc0Zp
— OSU Unleashed (@OSUUnleashed) February 26, 2024
Really sad for this guy. Hope he can get some community to lift him up after this plays out. https://t.co/2ETip5uxyi
— Silver Bullet Saga (@OhioState_SBS) February 26, 2024
This is so sad man. The dude all the talent in the world and made it out just to fall back in. The decision to play football at OSU probably saved his life. I hope he gets the help he needs so that stays true https://t.co/aCAUPfqk7a
— Jake Lowd Boyz (@udlowdboyz) February 27, 2024
Talk about a guy that has gone the wrong way since being at OSU. Bud u gotta stop hurting yourself and get right https://t.co/yL8Vvd3uiW
— Christopher L (@christopherlyn6) February 27, 2024
Man, this sucks. One of the absolute coolest and most polite guys ever. You can believe it or not, that’s your choice. Still rooting for you to turn your life around Dame https://t.co/d6Mj1qZ4zq
— J (@bucknut27) February 27, 2024
…. so sad man https://t.co/3KkSSaaB2a
— austin (@austinalyn_) February 26, 2024
Arnette’s attorneys claim that Arnette was in possession of “lawful medication” that he was prescribed and should not have been arrested.
“Legal counsel for Mr. Arnette, stated that the recent report that he was arrested for possession of methamphetamines and firearms is simply incorrect,” his lawyers said in a statement. “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. Arnette 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.”
We’ll have to see how this plays out for Arnette.
