SCHLICHTER CAN’T STAY OUT OF JAIL

SCHLICHTER CAN’T STAY OUT OF JAIL

By the time Art Schlichter turns 60 years old he will have spent one-third of his life in prison and another third in various courtrooms trying to stay out of jail.

Schlichter’s problem isn’t just that he can’t stop gambling. His problem is that he can’t stop being a lousy gambler.

Thursday, the former Ohio State star quarterback — already under house arrest while waiting to start a 10-year jail term — was arrested after his probation officer reported he had violated his bond conditions when he twice tested positive for cocaine.

Schlichter, now 51, is the prime example of how addictive gambling can derail a career and a life. He was the fourth pick in the 1982 NFL draft. But his gambling contributed to the loss of his football career when the NFL suspended him following the 1983 season.

Since then he has spent almost a dozen years in custody for various scams, thefts and frauds to feed his gambling addiction. A few years ago he went into 12-step programs for both gambling and substance abuse.

Apparently it’s not a good idea to whisper to the guy sitting in the next chair: “betcha a two-four I can get to step 10 before you.” Who knew?

Not Art, apparently, Anyway that didn’t work either.

Last year he pleaded guilty to swindling 50 people out of $2.5 million as part of a scheme to sell fake tickets to sporting events, then gambling away the money he stole.

He was under house arrest awaiting a judge’s approval of a plea agreement that calls for him to serve about 10 years behind bars when the cops again showed up.