Pawn stars in jail

Checked on December 20, 2025
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Executive summary

Several regulars from the History Channel’s Pawn Stars have faced arrests over the years: Austin “Chumlee” Russell was arrested on weapon and drug charges in March 2016 amid a sexual-assault investigation [1], Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison was arrested for DUI in Las Vegas on September 8, 2023 [2] [3], and an expert associated with the show, Johnny Jimenez Jr., was arrested on domestic-violence allegations in 2015 according to entertainment reporting [4]. Reporting catalogs these incidents as isolated legal troubles rather than a pattern of serial criminality, but public coverage has varied in depth and focus [5] [6].

1. Who from Pawn Stars has been jailed or arrested

Public reporting names at least three Pawn Stars figures with arrests: Austin “Chumlee” Russell was taken into custody in March 2016 on weapons and drug charges after police searched his residence during a sexual-assault inquiry [1] [6], Corey Harrison was arrested for DUI after officers reported his truck veering between lanes on September 8, 2023 [2] [7], and Johnny Jimenez Jr., described as a toy expert on the program, was arrested on domestic-violence charges following an alleged altercation in 2015 [4] [5].

2. The documented circumstances and the charges reported

Chumlee’s 2016 arrest stemmed from a police search during a sexual-assault investigation that turned up drugs and weapons, leading to his booking on drug and weapon counts rather than sex-crime charges as reported by CNN and later summaries [1] [6]. Corey Harrison’s 2023 incident involved an officer observing his pickup swerving and detecting signs of intoxication, with police reports noting bloodshot eyes, a blank stare and an odor of alcohol—facts repeated across local outlets [2] [3] [8]. Johnny Jimenez Jr.’s cited arrest papers tied him to a 2015 domestic incident reported by entertainment outlets, though those summaries provide fewer official-document details in the provided sources [4] [5].

3. Legal outcomes and defenses reported in the media

Available reporting indicates Chumlee was booked on drug and weapons charges after the 2016 search; articles emphasize that he was not immediately charged with a sexual-assault offense in that sweep [1] [6]. Corey Harrison publicly gave varied explanations in media interviews—one outlet quoted him saying his unsteadiness was related to an infected shin from walking through poison ivy, a version that appeared alongside police descriptions of intoxication in local reporting [9] [7]. The sources do not provide comprehensive case closure details for each incident in the dataset provided, so final dispositions, plea agreements, or sentences are not documented here (no direct source).

4. How coverage framed these incidents and potential agendas

Entertainment outlets and tabloids have packaged these arrests as “scandals” that punctuate a long-running reality series, which serves both to attract clicks and to feed celebrity-fueled narratives about downfall and redemption [5] [4]. Local news and police reports emphasize observable facts—officer observations, items seized—while lifestyle sites highlight reputational effects; that divergence suggests different editorial incentives: public-safety clarity versus sensationalism for audience engagement [8] [1].

5. What’s missing from reporting and what that implies

The assembled sources provide incident details and immediate reactions but offer limited information on prosecutorial decisions, court outcomes, or long-term consequences for the individuals’ careers beyond brief statements from colleagues like Rick Harrison pledging support for Chumlee [10]. Because the provided reporting does not include final court records or follow-up legal documentation, definitive statements about convictions, sentences, or legal resolutions cannot be made from these sources alone (no direct source).

6. Why these cases matter beyond celebrity gossip

These arrests illuminate recurring themes in celebrity coverage—how criminal allegations are reported, the balance between public interest and presumption of innocence, and how workplace communities (in this case, the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop) respond publicly. They also show how different outlets prioritize different facts: immediate police observations vs. context and defense, which affects public perception of guilt or rehabilitation [1] [9] [10].

Want to dive deeper?
What were the final legal outcomes for Austin 'Chumlee' Russell's 2016 arrest?
How did Corey Harrison's 2023 DUI arrest affect Pawn Stars production and ratings?
What standards do entertainment outlets use when reporting arrests of reality TV personalities?