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Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has been arrested for allegedly failing to pay child support. He is being held in the Stark County Jail in Ohio as of July 20, according to the Canton Repository. Bell has seven children with six different women, and it is unclear which child support case the arrest stems from.
Bell’s attorney, Thomas Shaffer, said in a statement that his client is being inaccurately assessed child support based on the salary he earned as a professional athlete. According to the Canton Repository, the Jackson Township Police Department arrested Bell on July 19. He had appeared at a meet-and-greet event at Belden Village Mall earlier that day. Shaffer said Bell was unaware of the arrest warrant.
“Six months ago he cashed in an NFL pension to pay $50,000 in child support for that child. His guidelines are still inaccurately being deemed based on his NFL salary and his professional boxing career,” Shaffer said. “This is a revolving door because he pays a number that doesn’t reflect his true income. The issue will never end. The court needs to reflect his true income.”
According to authorities, the 34-year-old former NFL star is currently facing three felony counts of failing to pay child support in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and reportedly owed $112,522.89 as of Feb. 3, according to court records cited by the Canton Repository. Bell is being held on a “courtesy hold for another agency,” according to an inmate roster accessed by USA TODAY through the Stark County Sheriff’s Office app.
Bell was arrested in Ohio on a warrant from Michigan, where the child lives. He plans to present his recent tax returns to a Michigan judge in an effort to have his child support obligation legally reassessed and reduced.
NFL Career
A second-round pick out of Michigan State in 2013, Bell spent five seasons with the Steelers. He sat out the 2018 season in a franchise-tag dispute before signing with the Jets in 2019. Bell was released during the 2020 season and signed with the Chiefs. In 2021, his final NFL season, he played for the Ravens and the Buccaneers. Bell earned $44.8 million during his NFL career, was selected to three Pro Bowls, and was named a first-team All-Pro twice.
