Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold will have the chance to get out of jail while awaiting felony kidnapping charges.
The Lions cornerback was jailed last week on a series of charges related to an alleged kidnapping, and prosecutors initially asked that he be held without bond. But a judge on Monday ruled that Arnold could go free on bond, leaving the team with a decision on his future.
Terrion Arnold Granted $1 Million Bond
As the Detroit Free Press reported, Hillsborough County judge Christopher C. Sabella granted $1 million bond to Arnold. Sabella said that while prosecutors had probable cause to charge Arnold, “the burden is higher than the probable cause.”
Sabella responded to the request from prosecutors that Arnold be held without bond until trial, the Detroit Free Press report added.
“Florida prosecutors sought Arnold to be held in detention without bond until his trial, but Sabella denied the state’s request, saying ‘the state isn’t there at this point.’ The state also requested an ankle monitor, which the defense objected to and the judge denied,” the report noted.
Prosecutors claim that Arnold orchestrated a violent kidnapping in response to an alleged theft of nearly $250,000 from an Airbnb that he owned. Several other co-defendants had already pleaded guilty, with Arnold’s name first surfacing in court documents earlier this year.
Arnold will be allowed to leave his home for work purposes, which would have allowed him to attend Lions practices and games. Sabella added that the extra attention Arnold will face would help keep him in line for the coming weeks and months.
“If he is late for practice, ESPN will let us know,” he said. “If he violates the conditions of his bond, he will be found.”
Arnold has denied any connection to the alleged kidnapping, releasing a statement through lawyer R. Timothy Jansen professing his innocence.
“Mr. Arnold had no involvement whatsoever in the activities that led to those arrests,” Jansen said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press. “He did not participate in, nor was he present for, any conduct related to the alleged offenses. There is no evidence in police reports, text messages, or witness statements that implicates Mr. Arnold in any way.”
Lions Abruptly Cut Ties With Terrion Arnold
Sabella’s prediction was proven wrong almost immediately, with the Lions cutting ties with Arnold within hours of his bond hearing. The team waived the former first-round pick, leaving him with an uncertain NFL future and creating a significant hole in Detroit’s secondary.
The Lions had not yet released a statement on Arnold’s release, saying last week that they were monitoring the situation.
“We are aware of the legal situation regarding Terrion Arnold,” said a spokesperson for the team, via People magazine. “We will not comment at this time out of respect for the ongoing legal process.”
The team had offered supportive statements of Arnold when his name first surfaced, with head coach Dan Campbell saying the team believed the cornerback’s claim that he had no involvement in the kidnapping.
Lions CB Terrion Arnold Gets Good News at Court Hearing