Chumlee of 'Pawn Stars' Strikes Plea Deal In Guns & Drugs Case

 

Chumlee pawn stars

Plea Deals?

I know a little bit about them, but I’ve got a buddy who’s an expert. Lets bring him in and see what we’ve got.

Austin Lee “Chumlee” Russell, from the Las Vegas-based reality television show “Pawn Stars,” is expected to plead guilty to a drug charge and avoid jail time, his lawyers told a judge Monday.

The 33-year-old Russell faces one count of ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance.

In an agreement with prosecutors, the gun charge would be stayed, while Russell would plead guilty to the drug charge, a gross misdemeanor, and receive three years’ probation.

Flanked by attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, Russell answered “yes sir” and “yes, your honor” when Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Sciscento asked whether he understood the agreement.

As part of the deal, Russell must undergo counseling and forfeit all the property seized by police during a March 9 search of his home, Chesnoff said.

A complaint filed last week lists 11 rifles and handguns found on that date.

Should Russell complete probation, the gun charge would be dismissed. But if he fails, he could be found guilty of the felony and face two to five years in prison.

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Russell was already listed as a prohibited person (reason unknown) when his home was raided during a sexual assault investigation. While the sexual assault case turned out lack enough evidence to prosecute, there were substantial amount of drugs and firearms found in a safe on his property.

While the “village idiot” character of Chumlee is a fan favorite, I’m honestly a bit irritated that he’s getting off so lightly. Russell knows that he is a prohibited person, and yet amassed a substantial collection of firearms that he kept with his drugs in a safe. He should be going to prison. He won’t be, because prosecutors in this nation don’t treat firearms offenses with the seriousness they deserve.

Sadly, that’s one area in this nation where the criminal justice system is truly blind for rich and poor alike; those guilty of firearms crimes are given a slap on the wrist, and are put back out on the streets, so that politicians can whine about there being a “gun violence problem.”

I refuse to believe that’s the best we can do.

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