Laterrance Welch, a football player from Arizona State University (ASU), was arrested after being accused of stealing a teammate’s $30,000 watch and attempting to pawn it, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Welch, a cornerback who transferred from LSU, was taken into custody by the Scottsdale Police Department on December 2 at approximately 2:30 p.m. He was booked on charges of theft and trafficking stolen property. The arrest followed the discovery that Welch had stolen the watch from a teammate and attempted to pawn it at Estate Watch and Jewelry Company, a store located in downtown Scottsdale.
The watch had been reported stolen to ASU Police the previous week, prompting an investigation. Welch’s arrest came a week after the theft was reported, and he was initially booked by Scottsdale Police before being transferred to ASU campus police for further investigation.
This incident follows a significant turn in Welch’s career. He had been dismissed from the ASU football team after a rules violation that took place shortly after the team’s Nov. 30 game against the University of Arizona. The junior cornerback had been an important player for the Sun Devils, contributing with 13 tackles and two interceptions during his only season in Tempe.
One of Welch’s standout moments of the season was when he returned an interception for a touchdown in the Sun Devils’ 35-31 victory over UCF on November 9. His other interception came in the Territorial Cup, which was the last game he played for ASU.
In the wake of the arrest, Welch entered the transfer portal on December 4, signaling the end of his time with the Sun Devils. ASU football now focuses on its upcoming matchup against either Clemson or Texas in the quarterfinals of the CFP Playoff at the Peach Bowl on January 1 in Atlanta.
