Pawn Stars actor Austin Lee Russell, commonly known as “Chumlee” on the show, has faced various legal issues over the years, some of which have had serious repercussions. Austin was a familiar face during the show’s 13-year run, running the day-to-day operations of Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. A childhood friend of Corey “Big Guy” Harrison, Austin worked at the shop years before Pawn Stars began, but the Nevada native’s legal troubles seem to have taken over.
Pawn Stars has been on the air since 2009 and focuses on the ins and outs of a 24-hour pawn shop in Las Vegas. Set in a city that never sleeps, the store showcases some very interesting items as well as some interesting situations. Although Austin has been with Pawn Stars since the beginning, his legal issues didn’t surface until 2016 and began to take over his life. As a cast member of one of the most popular reality shows of the time, there was interest in what he was accused of, and it might be helpful to look back at his legal troubles.
In March 2016, police raided Austin’s home as part of a sexual assault investigation, where they found various drugs and a gun and arrested him. Austin was booked on drug and firearms rather than sex crime charges because the sexual assault investigation was still ongoing at the time. After bail, Pawn Stars actor Austin appeared in court and completed a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to firearms charges and attempted drug possession. By pleading guilty, he avoided prison and was instead sentenced to counseling and three years of probation.
Austin’s plea not only requires him to plead guilty, complete counseling and receive three years of probation, but also to turn over his guns and drugs to law enforcement. According to PopCulture, when police seized his assets, they found both registered and unregistered firearms, some of which should not have been in Austin’s personal possession. Austin of Pawn Stars, who owns an assault-style MP5 and a .223 caliber rifle, has given up his guns and has been ordered to stay out of trouble until 2019. After years of maintaining his innocence, Austin has only one criminal record left after the incident.
Pawn Stars may be one of the highest-rated reality TV shows, but it’s not without its own drama. Austin “Chumlee” Russell remains a character on the show, along with Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, whose grandfather and co-owner of Gold and Silver Pawnshop died in 2018. It looks like Austin will be appearing more on the show in the years to come.
