Austin Lee Russell, better known as “Chumlee” on Pawn Stars, has had a number of legal difficulties over the years, some of which have had catastrophic consequences. Throughout the show’s 13-year run, Austin was a familiar face, operating the day-to-day operations of Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. Austin, a boyhood buddy of Corey “Big Guy” Harrison, worked at the shop for years before Pawn Stars opened, but his legal difficulties appear to have taken precedence.
Pawn Stars, which has been on the air since 2009, focuses on the inner workings of a 24-hour pawn shop in Las Vegas. Set in a never-sleeping city, the store displays some extremely unique things as well as some very interesting scenarios. Despite the fact that Austin has been with Pawn Stars since its inception, his legal difficulties did not appear until 2016 and began to dominate his life. As a cast member of one of the most popular reality series at the time, there was curiosity in what he was accused of, and a look back at his legal difficulties may be beneficial.
Austin was arrested in March 2016 after police raided his residence as part of a sexual assault investigation and discovered numerous substances and a pistol. Because the sexual assault investigation was still underway at the time, Austin was booked on drug and guns charges rather than sex offense charges. Austin, the Pawn Stars actor, appeared in court after posting bond and executed a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to guns charges and attempted drug possession. He avoided prison by pleading guilty and was instead sentenced to counseling and three years of probation.
Austin’s plea compels him not only to plead guilty, complete treatment, and serve three years on probation, but also to surrender his guns and drugs to law enforcement. When authorities seized Austin’s assets, they discovered both registered and unregistered firearms, some of which should not have been in his personal possession, according to PopCulture. Austin of Pawn Stars, who possesses an assault-style MP5 and a.223 caliber rifle, has surrendered his weapons and been ordered to remain out of trouble until 2019. Austin has only one felony record left after years of proving his innocence.
Pawn Stars may be one of the most popular reality TV shows, but it’s not without drama. Austin “Chumlee” Russell, who died in 2018, and Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, whose grandfather and co-owner of Gold and Silver Pawnshop died in 2018. Austin appears to be appearing more on the show in the coming years.