Former Steelers, Michigan State star Le’Veon Bell arrested over alleged unpaid child support

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Michigan State star Le’Veon Bell was arrested over the weekend in connection with an alleged failure to make child support payments, according to a report from TMZ Sports. Bell’s attorney acknowledged the former NFL running back has fallen behind on his obligations but argued the payments were originally calculated based on the salary he earned during his playing career. The case is being handled by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office because the child involved lives in Michigan. Bell, who now resides in California, was reportedly in Ohio for an autograph signing in Canton shortly before his arrest. The latest legal issue comes less than a year after Bell was hit with a $25 million default judgment in a civil sexual abuse lawsuit that he continues to deny. According to TMZ Sports, Bell allegedly owes more than $50,000 in unpaid child support. Bell’s attorney, Thomas Shaffer, told TMZ his client is no longer earning the type of income he made during his NFL career, making it difficult to keep up with payments that were established while he was still playing professional football. Shaffer also told TMZ that Bell previously used his entire $50,000 NFL pension earlier this year to help cover child support obligations. Bell now intends to explain his financial situation before a judge as the case moves forward. The arrest adds another chapter to a difficult stretch of legal matters involving the former All-Pro running back. Last year, Bell was ordered to pay $25 million in a default judgment stemming from a civil lawsuit filed by a female relative who accused him of repeated sexual abuse over a period of several years. According to the lawsuit, Bell’s cousin, Jada Bell, alleged the abuse began when she was six years old and continued into adulthood whenever Bell returned home to Ohio. A Franklin County judge entered a default judgment after ruling Bell failed to appear or respond to the lawsuit, and a jury later awarded Jada Bell $25 million in damages. Bell has consistently denied the allegations: “My client adamantly denies any and all allegations that have been lodged against him,” Shaffer previously told TMZ. “Further, he was never served with a civil complaint or any documents.” Shaffer has also argued Bell’s due process rights were violated because he was not properly served while living outside Ohio. According to the attorney, Bell is seeking to have the default judgment reopened and overturned so the allegations can be litigated in court. Alas, Bell was one of the NFL’s premier running backs during his prime after starring at Michigan State from 2010-12. He earned first-team All-American honors before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Over 10 NFL seasons, Bell rushed for 6,554 yards and 42 touchdowns while spending time with the Steelers, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before transitioning into boxing following his football career. — On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.