In a significant development following a police raid on his Las Vegas home, Austin “Chumlee” Russell is expected to accept a plea deal. The agreement would allow him to avoid jail time by pleading guilty to a single charge of attempted possession of a controlled substance.
As part of the deal’s terms, Russell must forfeit all items seized during the March search. This includes numerous firearms and various drugs. He will also be required to complete three years of probation and undergo court-mandated counseling.
The raid, conducted on March 9, led to the discovery of 12 guns, a large bag of marijuana, a small amount of methamphetamine, and prescription anxiety medication. Police executed the warrant as part of a separate sexual assault investigation, for which Russell was never charged.
The criminal case now focuses exclusively on the drug and weapon offenses uncovered during that search. The plea agreement strategically offers a path for Russell to resolve these charges without serving a prison sentence.
A key provision allows for the dismissal of a felony weapons charge. This dismissal is conditional upon Russell successfully completing all terms of his probation and avoiding any new legal issues for a specified period.
Should he fail to meet these conditions, he would face a prison sentence of two to five years on the weapon possession count. His compliance will ultimately determine the severity of the outcome.
A hearing is scheduled for June 1 for Russell to formally enter his plea before a judge. If the court approves the agreement, the stipulated probation and other conditions will begin immediately, marking the next phase in this legal process.