A former NFL star spent less than two hours in the Clayton County jail for allegedly not paying child support, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the AJC. But Jamal Lewis said Thursday he's a responsible parent, the arrest was the result of misunderstanding.
Lewis, 32, was charged with child abandonment, a misdemeanor, and booked into the jail shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday, booking records show. He was released shortly after midnight Wednesday.
Lewis allegedly has had no contact with his son for more than a year, the arrest warrant states. In a statement to the AJC, Lewis disputed the accusations.
"I have made mistakes in my life, but failing to care for my children is not one of them," the statement reads. "I'm confident this matter will be resolved as the legal process plays out, and I will continue to work toward an arrangement within the court system that will allow me to effectively co-parent my son."
The arrest comes less than four months after Lewis filed for bankruptcy, listing $14.5 million in assets and $10.6 million in debts.
Lewis, who turns 33 later this month, retired from the NFL in 2009 after nine seasons in the league, playing for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. He was a standout Douglass High School in Atlanta and played college football at the University of Tennessee.
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