Oakland Raiders LB Aldon Smith charged with 3 misdemeanors

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County's district attorney filed three misdemeanor charges against 25-year-old Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith. The charges include DUI with prior conviction and refusal to submit chemical test, hit-and-run with property damage and vandalism. He is set to be arraigned on October 6.

Smith signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Oakland Raiders on Friday. The former San Francisco 49ers linebacker may be eligible to play as early as this Sunday, however, he could still face disciplinary action from the NFL.

Last year, the NFL suspended him for substance abuse. He has total of five arrests, including the most recent one last August. He was booked into the Santa Clara County jail and released on a $26,000 bond.

Smith entered the league in 2011 as a first-round draft pick out of Missouri.

A team source told ESPN 49ers general manager Trent Baalke met with the player after he left jail in August, and after Smith refused to take responsibility for being arrested, the team decided to release him.

Bay Area sports fans shared their reaction to the announcement on the ABC7 News Facebook page.

How risky is this move by the Raiders?

ABC7 Sports director Larry Beil said this move by the Raiders is a "low risk with the potential of high reward and that's why they're willing to add a new player to the roster two days before the start of the regular season."

Beil went on to say, "If Smith plays like the pro-bowl talent he is, then the Raiders just added a star who can wreck opposing offenses. And if he gets suspended, or if a judge decides to put him in jail because of the three misdemeanors, then the Raiders won't be paying him."

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