Art Schlichter sentenced to over a decade in prison
In the wake of Junior Seau’s untimely death, concussions are again in the news.
Former Ohio State star quarterback, Art Schlichter said several concussions are to blame for his criminal behavior. Schlicter has a history of gambling and has now added con-artist to the list of hats that he wears.
A federal judge sentenced Schlicter to over a decade in prison for scamming 55 people out of millions of dollars. U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson sentenced the former Ohio State University football star to 10 years, seven months in prison. In addition, he will be forced to pay restitution, to the tune of 2.15 million dollars.
Schlicter’s brain has been analyzed by three mental-health experts.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “Nolder (Schlicter’s attourney) said that three mental-health specialists who examined Schlichter in recent months concluded that he has “significant deficits” in the frontal lobes of his brain, most likely caused by the 15 concussions he suffered while playing high-school and college football. That kind of damage can cause impaired judgment, impulsive behavior and severe depression, Nolder said. Concussions are being studied for possible links to depression and suicide in NFL players.”
In Schlicter last scheme, he exploited his name in the sports world. He convinced investors that he could garner tickets to major sports events, including OSU football games and the Super Bowl. He told investors that he planned to resale the tickets for a profit.
Schlicter’s most visable victim is Anita Barney. She is the widow of Robert Barney, who was the president and chairman of Wendy’s. Barney was scammed out of 680,000. She even recruited friends -under Schlicter’s direction- who contributed to the scheme.
According to Chicago Tribune, “Nolder said that when Schlichter dies, his brain and spinal cord will be donated to Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which has analyzed the brains of dozens of former athletes.”
Schlichter joins Dave Duerson and, possibly, Junior Seau as former players who will have their brain examined to determine the effects of concussions. For the NFL, player safety has become an inherent issue after several class action suits have been filed against the league.
