Ohio State football: Marshon Lattimore’s situation probably not serious
By Del Barris
Former Ohio State football player and current New Orleans Saints’ cornerback Marshon Lattimore has found himself in a bit of hot water after being arrested with three other men during a traffic stop in his hometown of Cleveland Thursday night.
As first reported by cleveland.com, Lattimore was booked into the Cuyahoga County jail on charges of failing to tell police he was carrying a firearm and receiving stolen property; the gun was reported as stolen. He has not been formally charged.
Failure to inform the police you’re carrying a firearm is a minor misdemeanor, but the receiving stolen property charge could be as much as a fourth-degree felony depending on the value of the gun.
Lattimore’s attorney, Marcus Sidoti, released a statement Friday saying his client is cooperating fully with police and the situation is a “misunderstanding and that this will become even clearer as new information becomes available and is shared with the authorities.”
Based on what I saw covering stories like this during my time in tv news (I was a tv news cameraman for over 27 years), this is how I think it will all play out. The key to this is Lattimore does not have any kind of criminal record.
Prosecutors tend to look favorably on those who have never been in any kind of trouble. He will probably pay a fine for the minor misdemeanor. The more serious charge will most likely be reduced to a misdemeanor or dropped altogether, depending on what new information his attorney presents.
The Saints have yet to make any kind of a statement. You can bet their investigators, along with the NFL, are looking into the situation as well. Once they’re satisfied they have enough information, then you’ll hear from them.
I fully expect Lattimore to be with the Saints this upcoming season. In the majority of situations like this, NFL teams will put up with a player until they can replace them. He’s a 3-time Pro Bowl cornerback. Those types of players are not easily replaced. However, this doesn’t mean he won’t face discipline from the league. I fully expect a fine, and probably a suspension.
Next. Ohio State will soon start losing assistant coaches. dark
Lattimore was taken by the Saints with the 11th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft and was the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has ten career interceptions. This is all after a great career with the Ohio State football program.