In May 2012, Schlichter was sentenced to nearly 11 years in the Federal Correctional Institute in Florence, Colorado, and 10 years in an Ohio penitentiary. The two sentences were to be served concurrently, and with good behavior Schlichter was to be released Aug. 18, 2020.
But from inside the walls of prison, just months before his scheduled release last year, Schlichter was having women outside the prison place bets for him, O'Brien told IndyStar.
'IT'S SAD AND TRAGIC': Ex-Colts QB Art Schlichter's life behind bars
He was also betting with other inmates, O'Brien said. Prison officials found out through e-mails and phone calls Schlichter was gambling from inside. He was banned from email for 90 days due to his gambling, according to prison records.
As he was set to finish serving his 11 year-sentence in federal prison in August 2020 (which he completed in just more than eight years), Palmer filed a motion that Schlichter's remaining state time -- about nine months -- should be waived. Palmer said Schlichter suffers from diabetes, dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Chris Brown said in August 2020 that Schlichter had not earned his freedom and would need to serve his remaining sentence.
"He is past the point of rehabilitation," said Brown. "To release him now would be to subject the people of Franklin County to further criminal conduct. I have no faith he is going to get out and conduct (himself appropriately)."
Hooked on gambling since high school
By the time Schlichter was in high school, he was a regular gambler, according to his book "Busted: The Rise and Fall of Art Schlichter," which he published while out of prison in 2009.
He would go to Scioto Downs, a racetrack less than an hour away in Columbus. Mostly, he placed small bets, a few bucks. But his senior year he took $20 and bet on a long shot and won. The payout was $150.
Once he was at Ohio State in 1978, a 6-3, 190-pound starting quarterback for Woody Hayes, Schlichter's visits to Scioto grew more frequent, he says in his book. Each race that ran, he bet more. Soon he was wagering $30 a race.
He switched from horses to games when he was a junior at Ohio State. He began wagering on college basketball. He liked it because he didn't have to go to the track, he says in the book. He could make a phone call.
By that spring, according to his book, he was thousands of dollars in debt. From there, Schlichter's gambling addiction spiraled out of control.
Suspended from the NFL
In April 1982, Schlichter was picked fourth overall in the NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts.
From January to March of 1983, Schlichter reportedly lost $389,000 to Baltimore-area bookies. In May, it was reported that the FBI had launched an investigation into Schlichter's gambling at Ohio State.
Weeks later, just over a year after Schlichter was that first-round pick, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended Schlichter from the league indefinitely.
"Schlichter will not be reinstated," Rozelle said, ''until the league can be solidly assured that the serious violations of cardinal NFL rules he has committed will not be repeated.''
Ultimately, after Schlichter agreed to go to treatment and more details emerged, Rozelle suspended Schlichter for 13 months. He was reinstated in June 1984 and returned to the Colts active roster. The following season, the Colts waived him after five games and in 1986 he joined the Buffalo Bills as a free agent.
During his NFL career, playing in parts of three seasons, Schlichter appeared in 13 games, primarily as a backup. He made six starts and did not win any of those games. He threw 202 passes for 91 completions, three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.
In 2010, NFL Network listed Schlichter as the No. 4 draft bust of all time and a top 10 quarterback draft bust of all time.
Through the years, Schlichter has spent time in nearly 50 different prisons and jails.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow . Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com .
