Detroit Lions cornerback and Tallahassee native Terrion Arnold has been granted a $1 million bond by Hillsborough County Chief Judge Christopher C. Sabella following a pre-trial hearing on Monday, June 29.
Arnold was arrested after he turned himself in on Wednesday, June 24, on four counts of kidnapping and four counts of assault in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping in Tampa. The charges carry a potential life sentence.
Florida prosecutors wanted Arnold to be held in detention without bond until his trial, but Sabella granted his release and will allow Arnold to leave his residence for practices and games with the Lions. Sabella said the state did not have enough evidence to hold Arnold without bond until his trial, but there is “probable cause” in the case.
He will not wear an ankle monitor, though Sabella referenced the extensive media coverage that Arnold will receive as being a “paparazzi monitor.”
Boakai Hilton is being accused of orchestrating the crimes against Arnold’s driver and two of the driver’s associates. Alongside Hilton, Lyndell Hudson, Christion Williams, and Freddie Lee Hughes III are all currently in jail.
Terrion Arnold case: How we got here
In February, Arnold reported a theft of more than $200,000 in “personal items” from an Airbnb he rented in Largo. Days after the alleged robbery, Arnold is accused of “encouraging” the assault and robbery of his personal driver, Yan Lopez, who Arnold believed stole personal goods like his phone, and two associates, Daniel Tenesaca and Soljah Anderson.
During the nearly two-hour-long hearing on Monday, Tampa Police detective Scott Barnett testified that multiple people told him Arnold and Hilton orchestrated the kidnappings and subsequent assault. Arnold was said to be watching and giving directions on a FaceTime with Hilton of the beatings that took place in the apartment of Jasmine Randazzo, a friend of Arnold’s then-girlfriend Ariana Del Valle.
Arnold’s attorney argued that Hilton was the mastermind behind the plot. Arnold has previously denied his connection to the kidnapping case, and his lawyers maintain his innocence, saying, “There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations.”
Arnold made his first court appearance via satellite on Thursday, June 25, when a judge set the date for his pretrial hearing.
Arnold became one of Tallahassee’s highest selections in the NFL Draft when the Lions moved up five spots in the first round to select Arnold with the 24th overall pick. He also became St. John Paul II Catholic High School’s first athlete to be selected in the NFL Draft. He had his jersey retired with JPII in 2024.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Terrion Arnold granted a $1 million bond by Hillsborough County judge
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
