The DeBarge family’s troubled history with the law got worse last Friday. Chico DeBarge and James DeBarge, two members of the renowned R&B musical family, were taken into custody in Burbank, California, following a late-night traffic stop at approximately 1:30 a.m. on September 1, 2026.
James DeBarge, 63, was identified as the driver of the Tahoe, while Jonathan Chico DeBarge was inside the towed Nissan. Here’s where it gets wild: officers spotted a Chevrolet Tahoe towing a Nissan SUV with a tow strap, and neither vehicle displayed license plates. Police reported finding narcotics at the scene, and both brothers faced arrest on possession of controlled substance charges.
But Chico’s legal problems ran deeper than just the traffic stop. Police records indicate that Jonathan Chico DeBarge faced additional booking on an outstanding warrant. That’s the pattern right there—the cycle keeps repeating.
For context, Chico was formerly a member of the DeBarge family musical group and as a solo artist scored a 1986 US Top Forty hit with the song “Talk to Me”. His brother James has his own claim to fame: James married Janet Jackson in 1984, though their marriage was annulled one year later. That union made headlines, made culture, made the family household names in the 1980s.
But the DeBarge narrative has always been shadowed by substance abuse. Chico’s admittedly struggled with addiction for years, and he’s been arrested 3 other times—in 2007, late 2019 and early 2021—for drug possession. This September arrest isn’t an anomaly; it’s a continuation. In January 2021, he was busted again, and in November of that same year, authorities were alerted about a man “causing a disturbance” in a mobile home on Nov. 6, and upon arrival they noted that the RV’s tag had expired six months ago, discovering methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
The larger context? The DeBarge family represents one of Motown’s most gifted lineups—and one of its most tragic arcs. Talent met demons early. Multiple siblings have faced serious drug charges and incarceration over decades. The family’s gifts made them superstars; addiction has defined their recent chapters.
What makes this September bust notable is the simplicity of the trigger: no license plates on vehicles getting towed in the dead of night. That’s not sophisticated crime. That’s not a complex situation. That’s the bottom floor of chaos—getting caught on something basic, with something serious in the car.
The 16BARS take: The DeBarge story stopped being about “Talk to Me” or Janet Jackson decades ago. It’s a cautionary tale about genius, addiction, and what happens when a family’s greatest strength—their bond—can’t save them from their deepest weakness. Another arrest, another warrant, another cycle.
