Florida judge denies request to require ex-Lion Terrion Arnold to wear GPS tether

A Florida circuit court judge on Friday denied a request to require former Detroit Lion Terrion Arnold to wear a GPS tether as a criminal case against him moves forward, even though prosecutors called the cornerback a "danger."

During a Zoom hearing in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, Florida prosecutors pushed to amend Arnold's previously set bond conditions and require him to wear a GPS monitor after being released by the Lions in late June. Arnold is charged with armed robbery and kidnapping.

“We’re arguing to you he’s a danger to the community, a danger to the three victims in this case,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Riley.

But Arnold's attorney accused prosecutors of being "sour grapes" in their push to require a GPS monitor, after an earlier request was also denied. His agent said a monitor would make it "extremely difficult" for Arnold to get picked up by another team.

Nicole Lynn, Arnold’s agent, testified on Friday that there are now four NFL teams — the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans — with interest in signing Arnold. She said he had a workout with the Houston Texans on Thursday, where the team paid for him to fly in, and he had another visit this week and has one next week as well.

“I think there is a good likelihood (of Arnold being signed) ... but I’m not a fortune teller. I don’t want to say something I can’t guarantee,” Lynn said. “It would be extremely difficult and maybe impossible for him to get a job (with an ankle monitor).”

Arnold, who appeared at Friday's hearing via Zoom dressed in a dark suit, faces criminal charges in connection with a detailed armed robbery and kidnapping plot that happened in February in Florida. Prosecutors contend he orchestrated a plan to confront several men he and others believed had stolen thousands of dollars of property from them.

Harvey Steinberg, Arnold's attorney, asked Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Rich to wait 45 days to see if Arnold’s circumstances change and then revisit the tether issue. He said he’s “fairly confident” he’ll be on another team soon, as training camps start at the end of July.

But Riley said because Arnold is not employed by a team now, he should be on a GPS tether and Arnold's attorneys should request to have it taken off if he does get signed.

Ultimately, Rich denied prosecutors' request.

“I don’t think that rises to the level of a substantial change that would require a modification in the bond so I am going to deny the state’s request to modify the bond," Rich said.

What prosecutors sought

Florida prosecutors asked Hillsborough County Circuit Court Chief Judge Christopher Sabella at a pretrial detention hearing last week to make Arnold wear a GPS tether when he posted bond on his armed robbery and kidnapping charges. But Arnold's attorney said it would interfere with his ability to play for the Lions and Sabella allowed him to be released from jail without one.

When Arnold was released from the Lions on June 29, hours after the detention hearing, Riley filed a motion asking Sabella to reconsider his decision.

Steinburg wrote in a response to Riley's motion about the tether that Arnold expects to be employed by another NFL team within 30 days. He wrote that Arnold has already been contacted by three other NFL teams, though Arnold's agent said Friday that number is actually four.

"In sum, Mr. Arnold is not a flight risk, nor is he a danger to the community," Steinberg wrote. "He is confined to his home by both court conditions and media scrutiny and anticipates that he will have employment with another NFL team within 30 days."

Arnold is now out on bond. He posted bond on June 30 and was released from Hillsborough County Jail.

What Arnold is accused of

The Detroit Lions' former first-round draft pick is accused of orchestrating a plot to lure three men he believed had stolen property from him to a Florida apartment, setting the stage for a violent confrontation, Tampa Police Detective Scott Barnett testified during a June 29 pretrial detention hearing.

Arnold, 23, who was staying in Florida at the time of the alleged assaults in early February, is one of seven charged in connection with the incident and has denied involvement. He wasn't present when the men were assaulted and held, but prosecutors said his car was outside the apartment during the attack, participated in early planning of it and watched the attack on a FaceTime call.

Sabella said June 29 at the detention hearing he denied the request for the tether because he suspected Arnold would have "a paparazzi monitor."

"If he’s late for practice, ESPN will let us know. If he disappears, the world will know before he knows. If he shows up on a beach in Tahiti, he’ll be on social media. If he violates the conditions of his bond, they will find you,” Sabella said, pointing to the media in the courtroom.

Friday's hearing

Rich, the judge, asked on Friday what the possibility was of the NFL stepping in and putting Arnold on the exempt list, meaning he would not be able to play.

Lynn, Arnold's agent, said there is a chance of that, but Arnold would still be employed while on the list. He would be allowed to practice with the team at the summer training camp, and would be paid, Lynn said.

Steinberg said he feels that Riley is being “sour grapes” that Judge Christopher Sabella, who oversaw the pretrial detention hearing, did not hold Arnold without bail and wants to punish him with the GPS tether.

“I just don’t think the ankle monitor is there for the purpose of being punitive,” Steinberg said. “And I really feel as though, given the essence of the argument made by the state, it’s a punitive move.”