Two months ago, the Seattle Seahawks made the controversial decision to sign cornerback Terrion Arnold
, whose Detroit Lions career abruptly ended after he was arrested and charged with numerous felonies, including kidnapping and armed robbery. Arnold is currently on the commissioner’s exempt list, which means he doesn’t count toward Seattle’s 53-man roster, but he otherwise cannot play or practice with the team until further notice.The latest update to this case doesn’t sound particularly encouraging
for Arnold.
Boakai Hilton, Arnold’s childhood friend and co-defendant, pleaded guilty in court on Monday to three counts of kidnapping, three counts of robbery with a firearm, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and part of his plea agreement includes testifying against Arnold.
Here’s part of the statement from the Hillsborough County (FL) state attorney’s office:
Boakai Hilton has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 10 years in Florida State Prison for his role in the violent robbery and kidnapping case that also involves NFL player Terrion Arnold. This plea requires him to testify truthfully in any future proceedings related to this case.
Hilton pleaded guilty to three counts of kidnapping, three counts of robbery with a firearm, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm.
Investigators say Hilton, Arnold, Lyndell Hudson, Freddie Hughes III, Christion Williams, Arianna Del Valle, and Jasmine Randazzo lured three men to a Tampa apartment, where the victims were robbed at gunpoint, beaten, and held for more than an hour.
Arnold is accused of coordinating and directing the plan after believing the victims had stolen more than $200,000 worth of his personal property at an AirBNB rental. Investigators found no evidence linking the victims to that theft.
It’s worth noting that Del Valle and Randazzo have also pleaded guilty.
Arnold was drafted in the first round by the Lions in 2024 but was waived days after his arrest. When the Seahawks signed Arnold, they pointed to “overwhelmingly positive” feedback they received about his character, including from former Alabama teammate Jalen Milroe and defensive backs coach Karl Scott, who recruited but never coached Arnold at Alabama.
It’s TBD on the next major date in Arnold’s case, but in the meantime Arnold isn’t going to be on the field for the Seahawks anywhere in the near future.
