Lions Terrion Arnold is charged with kidnapping

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has been arrested in connection to an alleged armed assault on a group of males in Tampa, Fla., in February. He faces eight felony fees of kidnapping and theft that may keep him in prison for life if convicted.

Investigators imagine Arnold was the “primary conspirator” in an alleged plot that left three younger males with “visible injuries from being battered, held at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped before their personal property was stolen and they were ordered to leave,” the Tampa Police Department said Wednesday in a news release.

Six other suspects beforehand have been arrested. Two girls already pleaded guilty and agreed to help authorities prosecute Arnold, police said.

The second-year NFL participant turned himself in Wednesday evening and was held in a Hillsborough County jail without bond before his arraignment listening to Thursday afternoon.

Arnold appeared remotely during the transient listening to, where he was charged with three counts of theft with a firearm or lethal weapon for less than $750 and three counts of kidnapping to hurt or terrorize, all of that are first-degree felonies. He also was charged with two second-degree felonies for conspiring to commit those crimes.

“He’s absolutely denying these allegations,” protection attorney R. Timothy Jansen said during court proceedings.

Arnold will likely be held without bond until a pretrial detention listening to Monday, where the Hillsborough County state attorney’s workplace will argue for him to stay behind bars until trial.

According to police, a number of gadgets belonging to Arnold and others have been stolen Feb. 1 from an Airbnb rental property in Largo. They reported to Largo police that the gadgets have been value more than $250,000.

The alleged assault that led to Arnold’s arrest occurred early Feb. 4. It was plotted, police said, because Arnold suspected that two of the three males have been accountable for stealing his property. Investigators later decided those males weren’t concerned.

Police said the victims have been lured to an condominium, where they have been held at gunpoint and hit by suspects who have been streaming the assault to Arnold, who is accused of serving to coordinate the plot and giving orders to the alleged attackers on a group chat. He later arrived at the condominium and drove some of the suspects away, police said.

“Fame doesn’t get you out of criminal charges or our pursuit of justice and holding criminals accountable,” Tampa police chief Lee Bercaw said in a assertion on social media. “Our victims now have some closure thanks to the great work of our detectives and our strong partnership with State Attorney Suzy Lopez.”

The head of the management company that represents Arnold said in a assertion that the previous first-round draft decide “categorically denies any involvement in the matters underlying the allegations made against him and maintains his innocence.”

“There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations,” EAG Sports Management chief govt Denise White said. “Instead, the government appears to be relying on testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to lessen their sentences.”

Arnold has performed 24 video games for the Lions. He had 31 tackles and an interception last season before going on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury on Dec. 1.

The Lions said they’re conscious of Arnold’s scenario but have no additional remark.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.