Former NFL star and central Ohio native Le’Veon Bell appears to be facing new legal challenges in Michigan.
Bell, 34, was taken into custody in Stark County on July 19 related to a warrant from Michigan, according to records from that county. It was not immediately clear what the warrant was connected to.
Bell, a star football player during his time at Groveport Madison High School, played three seasons at Michigan State University where he was an All-American. He entered the 2013 NFL Draft and was picked in the second round. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for several seasons before playing for other teams. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his NFL tenure.
Le’Veon Bell’s Franklin County judgement
In 2024, a relative filed a lawsuit against Bell and his brother, La’Vonte Bell, accusing them of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor.
The case went to trial in February 2025 after neither of the Bell brothers filed paperwork to have an attorney represent them.
A jury found the Bells liable in the civil case and issued a judgment for $25 million against Le’Veon Bell and $11 million against La’Vonte Bell.
Nearly a year after the jury’s verdict, the brothers filed a request to have the judgment set aside, saying they were unaware the complaint had been filed and didn’t know there was a trial.
The brothers said in their request they did not have the chance to defend themselves against the relative’s allegations.
The request to nullify the jury’s decision remains pending. The relative who filed the lawsuit has argued the verdict should remain intact and that the brothers’ claims they didn’t receive notice can’t be proven.
The relative’s attorneys point to a variety of legal proceedings – from foreclosures to lawsuits filed by Le’Veon Bell’s mother – as listing an address in Fairfield County as their place of residence. Le’Veon Bell’s voter registration is also listed as being at that address.
There is no indication in Franklin County court records that either Le’Veon or La’Vonte Bell has been charged with any crime in connection to the allegations of sexual assault.
Le’Veon Bell has also had his name removed from the football field at his alma mater, Groveport Madison High School. In 2017, Bell donated $750,000 to the school to install a turf field but he only paid $300,000 of the money and did not make any payments after 2020.
After the jury’s verdict in the civil lawsuit, the school decided to take Bell’s name off the field, citing a portion of the agreement involving any offense “involving moral turpitude.”
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Le’Veon Bell, arrested in Ohio, seeks dismissal of Franklin County judgement
Reporting by Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
