Las Vegas Raiders football player Charles Snowden, a 26-year-old first-year defensive end, was arrested in Las Vegas on a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge. The incident occurred early Tuesday after Las Vegas police responded to a report of a 'suspicious' vehicle near a busy intersection southwest of the Las Vegas Strip.
Snowden was released from police custody with a court date set for April. His attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, confirmed the arrest but declined to provide further details. The Raiders stated that they were in contact with the NFL and local authorities regarding the incident involving Snowden.
Mr. Snowden's attorneys mentioned that he will be entering a not guilty plea and will address the matter in court on April 15. It remains uncertain if the arrest will impact Snowden's status with the team, as he has played in every game this season, including the recent loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy verified that league officials were communicating with the Raiders. The league's policy on alcohol abuse allows Commissioner Roger Goodell to impose a three-game suspension without pay for a first offense, deeming it detrimental to the integrity of the league.
This arrest adds to a series of driving under the influence incidents involving Raiders players since the team relocated from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020. Notably, former first-round draft pick Henry Ruggs was convicted in 2023 for a fatal DUI crash, resulting in a three to 10-year prison sentence.
In a separate incident, reserve defensive safety Roderic Teamer was released by the Raiders in November 2023 following his arrest for DUI and speeding charges. Teamer later pleaded no contest to reckless driving and paid fines, with other charges against him dismissed.
