LAS VEGAS — Former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette emerged from a Nevada courtroom Monday saying he hopes to play this season within the NFL, possibly with the Dallas Cowboys, after he resolved a felony 2022 gun case by pleading responsible to 2 misdemeanors.
“If I’m blessed enough to get another chance in the NFL, then I’m going to kill that,” Arnette advised reporters after Clark County District Court Judge Ronald Israel sternly instructed him that because of his plea, he can’t have weapons and may’t be round anybody who has a gun.
“I’ve learned a lot. I’m remorseful about everything,” the 26-year-old Arnette, who lives in Boynton Beach, Florida, advised reporters. “I appreciate and respect another opportunity. I’m a better man than I was.”
The former first-round draft decide by the Raiders in 2020 stated he had an airline flight booked to Dallas to speak with that crew a couple of contract. The Kansas City Chiefs launched him final 12 months from a reserve contract he had signed simply days earlier than his arrest in Las Vegas.
Israel final week balked at accepting Arnette’s written plea settlement and required Arnette to seem in individual to enter his pleas to misdemeanor assault and possessing a gun “in a threatening manner” at a Las Vegas Strip resort valet stand in January 2022.
Israel caught with the phrases of the plea deal and sentenced Arnette to 50 hours of neighborhood service, $2,000 in fines, give up of the gun he had when he was arrested and to remain out of hassle for 90 days. Arnette faces as much as one 12 months in jail if he violates the settlement. The case will likely be closed if he complies.
“No guns means no guns,” the decide advised him.
In courtroom, standing in a black T-shirt and pants, Arnette kissed a string of beads round his neck whereas his lawyer, Ross Goodman, and prosecutor Jory Scarborough met with the decide on the bench.
In the hallway, Arnette stated the beads mirrored his new faith, Santeria, or Way of the Saints. The perception, mixing the Yoruba faith of West Africa and Catholicism, is well-liked in Cuba and different components of the Caribbean.
Israel final week cited video recordings of the confrontation between Arnette and Las Vegas Strip on line casino valets over a parking receipt in January 2022, and former allegations involving Arnette and weapons three months earlier.
By admitting guilt to misdemeanors, Arnette prevented trial on fees of assault with a lethal weapon and carrying a hid firearm, felonies that mixed carry the opportunity of as much as 10 years in state jail.
Arnette was indicted final May after a grand jury in Las Vegas heard proof that he held a .45-caliber handgun and threatened two resort valets throughout an argument a couple of parking receipt on the Park MGM.
Las Vegas police stopped him driving his Mercedes SUV close by and arrested him on suspicion of drug and gun offenses. Officers reported discovering a gun within the driver’s aspect door and substances believed to be cocaine and marijuana. A passenger additionally was arrested with a handgun, police reported, however fees towards that man had been later dropped. Drug fees towards Arnette had been dropped final 12 months.
Arnette performed faculty soccer at Ohio State and was the second draft decide by the Raiders in 2020, behind Henry Ruggs.
Ruggs was concerned in a fiery deadly crash whereas driving his sports automotive drunk on a metropolis avenue at speeds as much as 156 mph, in keeping with police and prosecutors, only a week earlier than Arnette was launched by the crew. Ruggs additionally was dropped by the Raiders.
Ruggs, now 24, pleaded responsible in May to felony DUI inflicting loss of life and is anticipated to be sentenced Aug. 9 to 3 to 10 years in state jail underneath phrases of a plea deal that prevented trial and the opportunity of a long time behind bars.
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