5 days ago
Ex-Ohio State QB Art Schlichter expected to change plea in felony drug case
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A former Ohio State quarterback appeared in court Thursday on a felony drug charge stemming from a 2024 traffic stop.
Art Schlichter, who played for the Buckeyes from 1978 to '81, was allegedly found with two crack pipes during a 2024 traffic stop in North Linden. He was also found with small white rocks, which he reportedly said were 'crack rocks.'
Body camera footage released last February by the Ohio State Highway Patrol showed over six minutes of the encounter.
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A judge set a status conference date for Aug. 11, when Schlichter, 65, is expected to change his plea to avoid going to trial on Aug. 25. Schlichter's attorney said he couldn't change his plea on Thursday due to medical issues.
When Schlichter was arrested last year, he was on probation for a fifth-degree felony drug charge from 2022 after he was found unresponsive outside of a Columbus-area hotel and had to be revived with Narcan.
The former player had spent 10 years in prison for crimes related to gambling and also served time in federal prison for a ticket scam that took millions of dollars from victims.
Upon release from prison in 2006, Schlichter wrote a book about his addiction, 'Busted,' and became an anti-gambling crusader. But as he railed against casinos during church appearances, he continued to rack up new gambling debts.
Watch: Body camera footage of Art Schlichter
Schlichter became the program's all-time leader in offense during his tenure as a Buckeye. After college, Schlichter was drafted fourth overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1982 NFL draft. He threw three touchdown passes in the NFL before moving over to arena football.
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