Frank Clark’s legal situation is fluid and filled with questions

To be quite honest, I am getting pretty tired of having to use my law degree when talking about the K.C. Chiefs, but here we are again. As was reported by TMZ on Monday afternoon, Chiefs defensive end, Frank Clark was arrested after a traffic stop in which an Uzi was observed in a duffel bag.

The Chiefs reportedly are aware of the situation but have no comment at this time. Not a huge surprise since we don’t have that many details. What we do know comes from the LAPD:

Frank Clark was arrested but has since been released on bond. That means he posted a set amount of money ($35,000) that will be kept by the state if he fails to appear for his court date. The bond amount reflects the severity of the crime charged and can reflect on the likelihood that a person will return. Basically, it’s enough to make sure it hurts if they decide to run. Typically, a portion such as 10% must be posted in order to be released. Given Clark’s current contract, I’m sure posting was no issue.

What we know about Frank Clark’s recent arrest.

Clark has a history of run-ins with the law, having been charged with domestic abuse in 2014. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and found himself kicked off the Michigan football team as a result, so he is familiar with the system.

Despite this, however, there is a lot we don’t know going forward. Much like the situations with Britt Reid this offseason and Tyreek Hill’s issues of seasons past, we will find things out periodically.

Clark will have to eventually appear and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. He may, like he did with his 2014 charges, strike a deal with the prosecution and plead to a lesser offense in order to avoid jail time or to avoid having a felony on his record. Ultimately, this will be a discussion between Clark and his attorney while they negotiate with the prosecutor.

Clark was specifically charged with possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, a violation of California law. The code indicates there could be jail time and/or a fine.

Regardless, the timeline for the criminal charge is pretty fluid at this point. We don’t know much and unfortunately, that is likely to remain the case for a while. What does this mean for Clark’s status as we head into the 2021 season? I doubt there will be much impact on his playing status. Players have been picked up with weapons in the past and have not faced suspension.

No doubt there will be some internal Chiefs discussions on the matter, which could lead to some form of punishment from the Chiefs, but we won’t hear about it. It is just disappointing that we have to see another Chiefs player’s name in the headlines for something negative.

Hopefully this gets resolved quickly and efficiently so there is no distraction heading into this season. Also, thankfully, no one was injured. Here’s hoping I don’t have to whip out my law degree for the rest of this year.