Judge Scott shared that the former Philadelphia Eagles running back—who pleaded guilty to the federal charges in September 2024 and state charges in December 2025—was not considered a danger to the community, and although he believes he made a “poor judgment call,” the football player had taken responsibility.
While the 33-year-old would have already been eligible for parole in connection with the federal sentence, his detention order was due to his possession of the AR-15, which was illegal in New Jersey at the time of his August 2023 arrest, his attorney Yaron Helmer told the outlet.
“This is not just a matter of legal semantics,” the lawyer—who added that Mila is currently receiving end-of-life care—argued. “It’s about whether his daughter will hold her dad again.”
The northeastern state had initially banned ownership of assault weapons, but a July decision from the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ban was unconstitutional, providing legal grounds for Smallwood to withdraw his guilty plea.
