James DeBarge and his younger brother Jonathan “Chico” DeBarge were arrested in Burbank, California, after police said narcotics were discovered during an unusual late-night traffic stop. Both men were taken into custody on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, adding another case to legal histories that have included drug possession, cocaine trafficking allegations, assault charges and prison time.
The encounter happened around 1:30 a.m. Friday, August 28, when Burbank police spotted a Chevrolet Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV with a tow strap. Authorities said neither vehicle had license plates.
James, 63, was driving the Tahoe, while 60-year-old Chico was inside the Nissan being towed. Police said narcotics were discovered at the scene, leading officers to arrest both brothers on suspicion of controlled substance possession. Authorities also said neither man was wearing a seatbelt, and both vehicles were eventually towed.
Chico’s situation became more complicated after authorities discovered he had an outstanding warrant. Police did not immediately reveal what that warrant involved. NBC Los Angeles reported that representatives for the brothers had been contacted for comment.
The arrest comes roughly a year after Chico had another encounter with Burbank police. In July 2025, officers reportedly stopped the singer while he was riding a bicycle without the lighting required under California law. During the investigation, police reportedly found suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Records also showed an outstanding warrant connected to methamphetamine possession. He was booked before being released with a citation.
That case was only one entry in Chico’s decades-long history of drug-related legal problems.
One of his most serious cases dates back to 1988. Chico and his older brother Bobby DeBarge were convicted in federal court for participating in a conspiracy to transport more than two pounds of cocaine from Los Angeles to Michigan. Federal agents intercepted Chico and another man at Detroit Metropolitan Airport carrying cocaine in their luggage.
Chico was later sentenced to five years and eight months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. According to a Los Angeles Times report from 1989, the case carried an unusual twist. Chico had reportedly submitted newspaper clippings highlighting his anti-drug work in an effort to demonstrate his character before sentencing. The federal judge responded, “Who have you harmed by your hypocrisy?”
Drug problems continued to follow the singer after his release.
Chico was arrested on drug possession allegations in 2007 and again in late 2019. His January 2021 arrest in Burbank generated additional attention because police accused him of pretending to be James.
Police said Chico was driving without headlights and license plates when he was stopped. Officers reportedly found methamphetamine and heroin during a search. Because Chico allegedly did not have identification, authorities said he identified himself as James DeBarge before officers determined his actual identity during booking. He ultimately faced allegations involving drug possession, DUI, and false impersonation.
Later that same year, Chico was arrested again.
In November 2021, police responded to a reported disturbance involving a motorhome. Authorities reportedly discovered that the vehicle’s registration had been expired for more than six months. After the motorhome was impounded, officers allegedly found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside. Chico was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia before being released on a promise-to-appear citation.
Chico has not completely hidden his struggles with substance abuse from the public. His sixth solo album, “Addiction,” addressed the effect drugs had on his life and career, including the prison sentence stemming from his federal cocaine case. His music career has included solo material dating back to the 1980s, while the larger DeBarge family became famous for records including “Rhythm of the Night” and “I Like It.”
James has also faced multiple arrests of his own.
In 2010, James was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in a case involving a firearm. The following year brought two more arrests, one involving suspected drug possession and another involving assault with a deadly weapon. Court records cited by the Los Angeles Times show he was convicted of drug possession in 2011 and later convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and drug possession in 2012.
His legal problems continued in 2013, when James was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run and possession of a controlled substance. Then in April 2014, Los Angeles police arrested him in South Los Angeles on suspicion of narcotics possession. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was held without bail at the time because of his previous convictions.
James, who was once married to Janet Jackson, rose to fame as part of DeBarge during the family group’s hugely successful run in the 1980s. Yet behind the chart success, several members of the DeBarge family have publicly struggled with addiction and legal issues over the years.
For James and Chico, the latest Burbank case now puts those struggles back in the spotlight. Neither brother has been convicted in connection with the August 2026 arrests, and authorities had not disclosed additional details about the narcotics allegedly recovered or Chico’s outstanding warrant as of the initial reports.
