us Crime

Judge Sets Shilo Sanders Bankruptcy Trial for Aug. 31

By Rachel Whitmore Nashville, TN · DENVER —

Published Updated 5 min read

A federal judge scheduled Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial to begin August 31, 2026. The proceedings will determine if he can discharge over $11 million in debt.

DENVER — Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 31 and last approximately five days through Sept. 4. Judge Michael Romero presides over Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial.

"I'm also concerned there's a game: CU's first game is that same week," Judge Michael E. Romero said. "So I can see that coming. I am not a CU alum or I have no ties to CU. So I don't care. But I'm just recognizing that is a potential issue."

Ori Raphael, attorney for John Darjean, emailed Harvey Steinberg offering to discuss arrangements to set a defined scheduled window for Deion Sanders' testimony. "Happy to discuss arrangements to set a defined scheduled window for his testimony," Ori Raphael wrote in an email to Harvey Steinberg.

Deion Sanders played in the National Football League for 14 seasons and was a baseball outfielder for nine seasons in Major League Baseball, making him the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.

Why It Matters

The events described span 11 years, from 2015 to 2026. The official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14.

A federal bankruptcy judge, Romero, set the trial date for Aug. 31, 2026, to determine if Shilo Sanders will be able to get out of more than $11 million in debt.

Timeline

In 2015, John Darjean sued Shilo Sanders for causing permanent injuries in 2015 when Darjean attempted to confiscate Shilo's phone at school at Deion Sanders' request. Also in 2015, John Darjean alleged that Shilo Sanders elbowed him in the chest and neck area when Darjean went to grab Shilo's cell phone. On Aug. 11, 2026, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office attempted to serve Deion Sanders with the subpoena on the University of Colorado Boulder campus on Aug. 11.

On that same day, a sheriff's deputy reported being unable to gain access to the secure area of the University of Colorado during the Aug. 11 service attempt because Sanders was not available during preseason practice.

On Aug. 14, 2026, Judge Romero stated during an Aug. 14 conference that a conversation between Shilo Sanders and Deion Sanders prior to the 2015 incident may be relevant testimony.

On Aug. 18, 2026, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office transferred the subpoena paperwork to another jurisdiction for service after Harvey Steinberg indicated he could accept the documents on behalf of Deion Sanders.

What's New

Additional details show a federal bankruptcy judge, Romero, set the trial date for Aug. 31, 2026, to determine if Shilo Sanders will be able to get out of more than $11 million in debt.

Additional context includes Shilo Sanders' legal team stating they did not have an updated mailing address for him, noting the 2022 trial notice was sent to a South Carolina address where he had not lived since 2020. Records also show John Darjean alleged that Shilo Sanders elbowed him in the chest and neck area when Darjean went to grab Shilo's cell phone, and that Shilo Sanders spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent but did not make the team.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding the Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial in Denver. Subpoena served to Harvey Steinberg states the subpoena commands Deion Sanders to testify at Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial in Denver, while usatoday.com reports the official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14.

Regarding the Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial, Subpoena served to Harvey Steinberg states the subpoena commands Deion Sanders to testify at Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial in Denver, while usatoday.com reports a federal bankruptcy judge, Romero, set the trial date for Aug. 31, 2026, to determine if Shilo Sanders will be able to get out of more than $11 million in debt.

On the matter of the subpoena commands Deion Sanders, Subpoena served to Harvey Steinberg states the subpoena commands Deion Sanders to testify at Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial in Denver, while Proof of service filed Aug. 19 states the proof of service filed in court on Aug. 19 states the subpoena commands attendance within 100 miles of where Deion Sanders resides, is employed, and regularly transacts business in person.

Concerning Shilo Sanders bankruptcy debt trial, usatoday.com reports the official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14, while Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy adversary proceeding states the central issue in Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial is whether the debt to John Darjean stems from a willful and malicious injury, which would prevent its discharge under federal bankruptcy law.

Regarding when the Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial scheduled begin, usatoday.com reports the official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14, while Court scheduling order states Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 31 and last approximately five days through Sept. 4.

On the Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial, usatoday.com reports the official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14, while U.S. Bankruptcy Court docket states Judge Romero presides over Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial.

Regarding Shilo Sanders bankruptcy debt, usatoday.com reports the official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14, while Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy schedules states Shilo Sanders owes nearly all of his bankruptcy debt to John Darjean, a former security guard at his school in Dallas.

On the matter of Shilo Sanders filed bankruptcy debt, usatoday.com reports the official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14, while Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition states Shilo Sanders, 26, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt.

fact_check Facts

Relevance: primary · Type: action
Confidence100%
Harvey Steinberg, attorney for Deion Sanders, accepted service of a subpoena via email on behalf of his client.
Source: Court filing dated Aug. 19
Relevance: primary · Type: action
Confidence100%
The subpoena commands Deion Sanders to testify at Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial in Denver.
Source: Subpoena served to Harvey Steinberg
Relevance: supporting · Type: event
Confidence100%
Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 31 and last approximately five days through Sept. 4.
Relevance: supporting · Type: event
Confidence100%
The Colorado football team is scheduled to play its season opener against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
Source: University of Colorado athletic schedule
Relevance: supporting · Type: event
Confidence100%
The Colorado football team is scheduled to travel to Georgia on Sept. 1.
Source: University of Colorado athletic schedule
Relevance: supporting · Type: background
Confidence100%
Judge Michael Romero presides over Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial.
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court docket
Michael E. Romero, Judge
Relevance: supporting · Type: quote
Confidence100%
"I'm also concerned there's a game: CU's first game is that same week," Judge Michael E. Romero said. "So I can see that coming. I am not a CU alum or I have no ties to CU. So I don't care. But I'm just recognizing that is a potential issue."
Source: nypost.com
Relevance: supporting · Type: action
Confidence100%
Judge Michael Romero stated during an Aug. 14 conference that a conversation between Shilo Sanders and Deion Sanders prior to the 2015 incident may be relevant testimony.
Source: Court transcript from Aug. 14 pre-trial conference
Relevance: supporting · Type: action
Confidence100%
Deion Sanders may file a motion to quash the subpoena.
Source: Legal procedure in U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Relevance: supporting · Type: background
Confidence100%
The proof of service filed in court on Aug. 19 states the subpoena commands attendance within 100 miles of where Deion Sanders resides, is employed, and regularly transacts business in person.
Source: Proof of service filed Aug. 19
Relevance: supporting · Type: action
Confidence100%
Ori Raphael, attorney for John Darjean, emailed Harvey Steinberg offering to discuss arrangements to set a defined scheduled window for Deion Sanders' testimony.
Ori Raphael, Attorney
Relevance: supporting · Type: quote
Confidence100%
"Happy to discuss arrangements to set a defined scheduled window for his testimony," Ori Raphael wrote in an email to Harvey Steinberg.
Relevance: supporting · Type: action
Confidence100%
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office attempted to serve Deion Sanders with the subpoena on the University of Colorado Boulder campus on Aug. 11.
Source: Boulder County Sheriff's Office service attempt log
Relevance: supporting · Type: action
Confidence100%
A sheriff's deputy reported being unable to gain access to the secure area of the University of Colorado during the Aug. 11 service attempt because Sanders was not available during preseason practice.
Source: Boulder County Sheriff's Office service attempt log
Relevance: supporting · Type: action
Confidence100%
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office transferred the subpoena paperwork to another jurisdiction for service after Harvey Steinberg indicated he could accept the documents on behalf of Deion Sanders.
Source: Boulder County Sheriff's Office statement

menu_book Background & Sources

Context and data added by our newsroom from primary and authoritative sources — not in the original wire report.

Shilo Sanders, 26, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt.
Source: Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition
Shilo Sanders owes nearly all of his bankruptcy debt to John Darjean, a former security guard at his school in Dallas.
Source: Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy schedules
John Darjean sued Shilo Sanders for causing permanent injuries in 2015 when Darjean attempted to confiscate Shilo's phone at school at Deion Sanders' request.
Source: Darjean v. Sanders complaint
John Darjean alleged that Shilo Sanders elbowed him in the chest and neck area when Darjean went to grab Shilo's cell phone.
Source: Darjean v. Sanders complaint
Shilo Sanders did not appear for his 2022 trial, resulting in a $11.89 million default judgment in favor of John Darjean.
Source: Dallas County court default judgment, 2022
Shilo Sanders' legal team stated they did not have an updated mailing address for him, noting the 2022 trial notice was sent to a South Carolina address where he had not lived since 2020.
Source: Dallas County court records, 2022
The central issue in Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial is whether the debt to John Darjean stems from a willful and malicious injury, which would prevent its discharge under federal bankruptcy law.
Source: Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy adversary proceeding
Shilo Sanders has claimed he acted in self-defense during the 2015 incident and therefore the debt should be dischargeable.
Source: Shilo Sanders bankruptcy filing statements
Mechele Dickerson, a law professor at the University of Texas, stated, "I'm not sure why a judge would agree that a person needing to go to work is a good reason to quash (a subpoena)." "Lots of witnesses have jobs so if `I'd have to miss work' is a defense, almost all involuntary witnesses could avoid testifying."
Shilo Sanders spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent but did not make the team.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster transactions
Shilo Sanders was sued by his former lawyers, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, for unpaid bills.
Source: Barnes & Thornburg LLP lawsuit filing
Shilo Sanders was accused of not keeping up with payments on a Mercedes-Benz.
Source: Shilo Sanders Chapter 7 bankruptcy schedules
A Boulder County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived on the University of Colorado Boulder campus at 10:22 a.m. on Aug. 11 to serve civil papers to Deion Sanders during an open practice attended by members of the media and 300 fans.
The official record states that Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, and the bankruptcy trial in Denver is scheduled to begin Aug. 31, 2026, according to a pretrial conference in the case Aug. 14.
Earlier coverage on 2026-08-19 reported: Deputy tried to serve civil papers to Deion Sanders at Colorado practice, but coach was unavailable
A federal bankruptcy judge, Michael Romero, set the trial date for Aug. 31, 2026, to determine if Shilo Sanders will be able to get out of more than $11 million in debt.
CU law professor Jennifer Hendricks stated that because the judge brought up the football schedule, it suggests Deion Sanders' schedule will be accommodated and it is very unlikely he would be required to be at the trial the whole time.

forum Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to comment.