Chumlee Bail Posted: ‘Pawn Stars’ Cast Member Released From Jail, Fighting ‘False’ Charges
Chumlee posted bail on Thursday and was released from jail. The 33-year-old loyal Pawn Stars cast member plans to fight the “false” felony weapons charge and 19 felony drug possession charges brought against him. Chumlee was arrested on Wednesday after police raided his Las Vegas home.
Austin Lee Russell, who’s best known by his nickname Chumlee on the History Channel reality TV series Pawn Stars, posted his own bail one day after he was arrested and charged with felony illegal drug and gun possession. Chumlee’s criminal defense attorney, David Chesnoff, told the Associated Press on Thursday that his client will fight the weapon and drug charges.
Chesnoff went on to say that he’s looking forward to a “truthful conclusion” to the case. Chumlee was taken into custody on March 9 after police raided his home using a search warrant that was obtained after a woman made allegations against him for sexual assault. No sex-crime charges have been filed against Chumlee, but police did arrest him after finding illegal drugs and a gun in his home during the Wednesday raid.
UPDATE: @pawnstars' #Chumlee Charged With 20 Felonies After Raid On His Home https://t.co/y1WRNHqKoP pic.twitter.com/WlqHMcQdfa
— Sixx Sense (@SixxSense) March 11, 2016
Us Weekly reports that at least one gun was found along with methamphetamine and marijuana. Both drugs are narcotics and illegal in the state of Nevada without a medical prescription. The type of gun found in Chumlee’s southwest Las Vegas home hasn’t yet been released, but bail was set at a whopping $62,000.
According to Officer Larry Hadfield with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, “On March 9, 2016, a search warrant was served at the residence of Austin Lee Russell regarding a sexual assault investigation. During the course of the search warrant service, several illegal items including methamphetamine, marijuana and firearms were located.”
Rick Harrison, Chumlee’s longtime employer and co-owner of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop that’s the focus of the popular Pawn Stars show in Las Vegas, went to Chumlee’s defense on Thursday, saying, “We are here to help Chumlee any way we can.”
The “we” Harrison was referring to presumably includes Harrison’s father, Richard Harrison, who also co-owns the pawn shop, as well as Harrison’s son, Corey Harrison, who’s known Chumlee since childhood.
"Pawn Stars" boss Rick Harrison speaks out on Chumlee's arrest https://t.co/TWmkFARgvI
— Page Six (@PageSix) March 11, 2016
Chumlee began working for the Harrisons five years prior to the filming of Pawn Stars on the History Channel, which debuted in 2009. At age 21, Chumlee was hired to work behind the counter at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and quickly became a fan favorite on Pawn Stars. Through 12 seasons of the reality TV show, viewers have watched Chumlee write out tickets and estimate the worth of items brought into the shop for loan or pawn.
Having got his nickname at age 12 from the animated walrus Chumley on the TV series Tennessee Tuxedo, Chumlee is described by fans as a “big teddy bear” with his large stature and gentle, laid-back demeanor.
“People can relate to me, and they root for me because on the show I am the dumb guy, the one who is a little rougher around the edges. I’m the guy they want to hug.”
Rooting for Chumlee is definitely what fans and colleagues are doing following his arrest on Wednesday. The Washington Post reported that fans supporting Chumlee stood outside the pawn shop on Wednesday night. One fan reportedly said that he doesn’t see how Chumlee could be guilty of those things and believes that someone might be trying to get Chumlee’s money.
Could that be the case? Could someone have set Chumlee up? Could there be a conspiracy behind Chumlee’s arrest? One theory is that the drugs and gun were planted in Chumlee’s home, and then Chumlee was further set up with the sexual assault allegation that ultimately resulted in the search warrant and raid.
A cryptic message posted by Chumlee’s best friend and co-worker, Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, on Instagram on Thursday leaves fans further scratching their heads.
“Don’t believe everything you hear. There are always three sides to a story, yours, theirs and the truth…”
The truth is exactly what Chumlee and his lawyer are hoping for. Chumlee has his first court appearance in May following his bail on Thursday, and the sexual assault allegation made by an unidentified woman is still under investigation. Chumlee is currently dating Las Vegas casino chef Tanya Hyjazi.
The History Channel has not commented on the future of Pawn Stars, the network’s highest rated show, since Chumlee’s arrest and release on bail.
[Image via gsloan/Wikimedia Commons]
