Former Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton has been slapped with a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in Hillsborough County, Florida. Sutton, 29, surrendered to Florida authorities following an issued arrest warrant on March 7, as reported by The Detroit News. Though initially charged with the more serious offense of domestic battery by strangulation, he now faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
Surrendering late Sunday, Sutton appeared in court the following day, where he has to quickly arrange to prepare a defense. "After weeks of evading law enforcement, this man has finally made the right choice to turn himself in," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated, as quoted by on3. Sutton was released on his own recognizance, according to Erin Maloney, communications director for the Office of the State Attorney.
The alleged incident took place early in the morning of March 7. By the time police had arrived at the scene, Sutton had already fled. The information was later made public when the arrest warrant was posted on social media on March 20. A spokesperson for Sutton's legal team, in a news release, noted the incident as a "family matter" and expressed a desire for privacy from both the football player and the mother of his children. The legal team's comments were reported by hoodline.
The Lions organization, who had signed Sutton to a three-year, $33 million contract just the previous offseason, released him only a day after the arrest warrant was publicly announced. Team president Rod Wood told reporters at the NFL’s annual meeting, "We were learning it the same moment you guys were learning about the warrant," Wood's comments were documented by on3. Sutton's tenure with the Lions witnessed a solid performance, amounting to 17 starts with a career-high 65 tackles, an interception and six passes defended last season. This latest criminal charge puts a significant dent into Sutton’s professional career, leaving his standing in the National Football League highly uncertain.
