Why is C.J. Stroud’s father in prison for 38 years?

Stroud's father Coleridge Bernard Stroud III is sentenced to prison for 38 years.

Why is C.J. Stroud’s father in prison for 38 years?

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud (Image via IMAGO)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud made history on Sunday night by throwing for 470 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He eclipsed the previous best of 433 yards set by former Colts QB Andrew Luck in 2012. But instead of celebrating, Stroud spoke about his father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, who has been in prison serving a 38-year life sentence.

During the post-match press conference, the 22-year-old revealed his discontent about the American prison system. He claimed that it has not been a bed of roses, as many are led to believe, but rather the opposite.

YouTube video
I didn’t want to make this public, but our criminal justice system isn’t right. It’s something I need to be a little more vocal about because what he’s going through is not right.

He labeled the justice system “corrupt” and claimed that he had seen videos of rats crawling inside cramped prison cells. Although he believes that every criminal should spend their time behind bars, he also reminds everyone that they are human.

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Don’t get me wrong, criminals; they should do their time. But they’re still humans. I’m praying for the situation and a reform, and the people with reform are helping me a little bit.

What happened to C.J. Stroud’s father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III?

The Houston Texans drafted Stroud as the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His mother and a few other family members were present during the announcement, but his father was absent.

C.J.’s father, Coleridge Stroud, is serving life imprisonment at Folsom State Prison near Sacramento. On April 12, 2015, in downtown San Diego, the police arrested a man who forced himself inside the vehicle of a woman. She was waiting for the traffic to go green when he jumped in and demanded she drive to a house where he could buy drugs.

Why is C.J. Stroud’s father in prison for 38 years?
C.J. Stroud with his family (Image via SI)

The woman alleged that she was assaulted by the man but managed to escape. San Diego Harbor police chased the reported assailant, who crashed the car into a pole and hopped into San Diego Bay.

They caught the man in question, named Coleridge Bernard Stroud III. This was his fourth rodeo, but the first in 20 years. Back in the early 90s, he had a run-in with the law three times due to possession of illegal drugs, a felony, and stealing vehicles.

During a 2018 trial, Bernard pleaded to mitigate the fact that family problems had led him to get back on the streets for drugs. But had been clean for 20 years. But his argument was brushed aside, and the 38-year prison sentence was upheld, as per Sports Illustrated. He is eligible for parole in 2040 when he turns 74 years old.

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