LAS VEGAS, Nevada, May 23, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Austin Lee Russell, better known to millions of viewers as Chumlee on History Channel’s “Pawn Stars,” pleaded guilty to a drug charge to avoid jail time.
The 33-year-old TV star faces one count of ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance.
According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, in an agreement with prosecutors, the gun charge would be stayed, while Russell would plead guilty to the drug charge, a gross misdemeanor, and receive three years probation.
Flanked by attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, Russell answered “yes, sir” and “yes, your honor,” when Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Sciscento asked whether he understood the agreement.
As part of the deal, which needs to be signed by the judge, Russell will undergo counseling and forfeit all the property seized by police during a March 9 search of his home, Chesnoff said.
Russell was initially arrested on 19 charges of drug possession and a single charge of possessing a gun by a prohibited person and released on $62,000 bail.
Should Russell complete probation, the gun charge would be dismissed. But if he fails, he could be found guilty of the felony and face two to five years in prison.
He is due back in court next week.
Chumlee quickly became a reality TV celebrity in 2009 when the show profiling the daily operations of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, 713 Las Vegas Blvd. South, premiered on the History Channel.
