Former Astros RHP Chacon arrested

October 6, 3:02 PMHouston Astros ExaminerStephen Goff

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Former Houston Astros right-hander Shawn Chacon, who was released in June, 2008, after physically assaulting general manager Ed Wade, was arrested Monday night in Colorado for unpaid Las Vegas gambling debts. (AP Photo)

Former major league right-hander Shawn Chacon, who played eight seasons with the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros, was arrested Monday night at a Greeley, Colo., bowling alley on charges related to unpaid Las Vegas gambling markers.

According to the Greeley Police Department, Chacon, 31, was booked into Weld County Jail and could face a felony charge in connection with three bad checks written in the amount of $50,000 to Caesars Place in March. 

Sgt. Joe Tymkowych, a Greeley police spokesman, stated that the Clark County District Attorney's office in Nevada intends to seek approximately $165,000 in bail on Chacon's charge.

Chacon becomes the latest professional athlete to be charged with unpaid gambling markers in Nevada.

Former NBA star Antoine Walker was arrested July 15 at Harrah's Casino in South Lake Tahoe on three felony counts of writing bad checks related to gambling debts he incurred at three Las Vegas casinos.

In May 2008, the Wynn Las Vegas filed a civil complaint against Hall of Famer Charles Barkley for failure to repay a $400,000 debt stemming from October 2007. Barkley took full responsibility for his actions and promptly paid the casino. 

Chacon began this season with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.29 ERA over 42 innings in seven starts.

On June 18, he signed a minor league contract with the Oakland A's and spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Sacramento, going 8-4 with a 6.29 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts.

Throughout his career, Chacon often struggled with control, and that didn't change this season, as evident with 42 walks over 73 innings with the River Cats.

As a member of the Rockies, Chacon was named to the 2003 NL All-Star team and finished with 24 career wins in Colorado before being dealt to the Yankees in July 2005 for pitchers Ramon Ramirez and Eduardo Sierra.

With high expectations heading into the 2006 season, Chacon struggled with injuries, forcing Yankees manager Joe Torre to send his erratic right-hander to the bullpen. The Yankees dealt him to Pittsburgh July 31, 2006 in exchange for Craig Wilson. 

In 2007, the Pirates mainly used Chacon as a reliever, where he went 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 64 games.

Astros owner Drayton McLane, Jr. and general manager Ed Wade thought Chacon would be a solid addition to the starting rotation or the bullpen, and decided to sign him to a one-year, $2 million contract prior to the 2008 season.

However, his tenure in Houston ended in the blink of an eye.

After struggling in 15 starts, former Astros manager Cecil Cooper and Wade decided it was best to move Chacon to the bullpen -- a move Chacon strongly oppossed.

On June 25, 2008, Chacon refused to leave the team's dining room and speak with Wade privately in the GM's office. Out of anger, he attacked Wade by the neck and threw him to the ground. When Wade attempted to get back up, Chacon repeatedly knocked him back to the ground before fellow teammates could intervene.

Luckily, Wade was not injured as a result of the assault, but the following day, the Astros placed Chacon on waivers.

The veteran right-hander has yet to pitch in the big leagues since the embarrassing incident.

Last year, when the media asked if he regrets what happened, Chacon stated, "if there's any regret, I just wish they had just left me alone."