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Tiggity®

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Few odds and ends.

Two test positve for cocaine
Posted Friday, August 15, 2003 - 6:55 pm

By Rick Scoppe
COLUMBIA BUREAU
rscoppe@greenvillenews.com

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COLUMBIA — Two University of South Carolina athletes tested positive for cocaine use — and seven others tested positive for marijuana — from Jan. 1 to July 30, the school said Friday.
One athlete tested positive for cocaine during the fall semester.

In all, there were 13 positives among 821 tests for drugs of abuse and alcohol from Jan. 1 to July 30, USC said. There were also two positives for alcohol, one for Ephedrine and one for a prescription medicine without a prescription.

The athletic department also conducted 150 tests for anabolic steroids, with no positives, the school said.

USC released the information in response to a request by The Greenville News and other news organizations under the state's Freedom of Information Act. The school did not identify the athletes or their sports.

Athletes who test positive for the first time for drugs other than alcohol are notified of the results, as are their parents, sports information director Kerry Tharp said. Also, the athlete must undergo regular, random drug tests for 18 months and is enrolled in a counseling program.

An athlete who tests positive a second time is kicked off the team, Tharp said. There were no dismissals during this round of tests, Tharp said.

Athletes testing positive for alcohol are told of the results, as are their parents, and are scheduled for nonrandom testing and counseling, Tharp said. He said athletes testing a second time are required to undergo a "regular testing program" and must attend a "formal alcohol abuse or treatment program."

Third-time offenders are dismissed from the team, Tharp said.

Also, the athletic director or head coach has the discretion to kick a player off the team after one positive test, Tharp said.

Posted on Tue, Aug. 12, 2003
TheState
USC's Howell faces domestic violence charge
Rising senior faces domestic violence charge after altercation with his live-in girlfriend
By STEVE WISEMAN
Staff Writer

File

Howell

South Carolina center Rolando Howell faces a criminal domestic violence charge after an altercation with his live-in girlfriend.

Howell, a rising senior, was arrested Saturday morning after Richland County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to The Ashton apartment complex at 1401 Longcreek Drive to investigate a domestic complaint.

According to the police report, 27-year-old Mary A. Jones told the officers that Howell became violent during an argument at 10:45 a.m.

Jones, the mother of Howell's 2-year-old son, Rolando Howell Jr., told police that Howell grabbed her neck in a choking manner and grabbed her hair, pulling out her extensions.

In his report, Cpl. K.L. Pate wrote that Jones had a red mark on the left side of her neck.

Jones also told police that Howell hit her in the face with his hands. When Jones left the apartment, she said Howell followed her outside, grabbed her cell phone and threw it to the ground.

Richland County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Chris Cowan said a smashed cell phone was found at the scene. The report said Jones was visibly shaken and crying when the police arrived.

Howell, 21, was transported to the Richland County Detention Center, where he was booked and released a few hours later. Attempts to reach Howell on Monday were unsuccessful.

Before leaving on a planned vacation, USC basketball coach Dave Odom met with Howell on Monday.

"I have been alerted to the allegations and at this point all the facts are not in," Odom said in a statement through the school's sports information department. "Until that time, we will have no further comment."

This is not the 6-foot-9 Howell's first legal problem.

After his senior season at Lower Richland High School, Howell, Jones and another Columbia woman were charged in a money-order forgery scheme.

Howell was charged with cashing $1,560 in fake money orders in August 2000, before he enrolled at USC. The three falsified a dozen money orders totaling $4,385. Howell and Jones were caught on videotape cashing one of the fake money orders at a Columbia credit union.

All three were accepted into a Pretrial Intervention Program where they admitted guilt, agreed to pay restitution and performed community service.

Howell completed the PTI program to clear his record, but USC suspended him for the first seven games of his freshman season.

A McDonald's All-American selection at Lower Richland and one of the nation's top recruits, Howell averaged 8.5 points as a freshman. He moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2001-02 and averaged 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Last season, starting 27 of USC's 28 games, Howell averaged 10.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.

James Holderman

THE STATE
Thursday, May 23, 1991
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: 1A

HOLDERMAN NEGOTIATING GUILTY PLEA
EX-USC PRESIDENT FACES COURT HEARING
By JOHN ALLARD, Staff Writer
Former USC President James Holderman is expected to plead guilty Tuesday to charges he used his office for personal profit and did not pay state income taxes on money he improperly received, sources said Wednesday.

The sources, who insisted on anonymity, said Holderman's attorneys have discussed a plea agreement with 5th Circuit Solicitor #### Harpootlian and State Law Enforcement Division investigators.

The discussions are expected to be concluded before Tuesday, when Holderman is scheduled to be arraigned in Richland County on a state income- tax evasion charge, the sources said.

Holderman is expected to be sentenced immediately after entering his guilty plea at the arraignment, according to sources familiar with SLED's investigation of Holderman. The judge who will preside over the arraignment has not been named.

Harpootlian will not recommend a sentence in the case or agree to dismiss any charges under the plea agreement being discussed, the sources said.

Holderman will plead guilty to state income-tax evasion and accepting extra compensation, according to the sources. The felony charge of state income-tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the misdemeanor charge of accepting extra compensation carries a maximum five years and a $500 fine.

Public officials cannot receive money beyond their salaries unless authorized to do so by state law.

A third charge of using an official position for personal gain could not be part of the plea agreement because it is similar to the extra-compensation charge and is based on the same set of facts, the sources said. The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

It would be unusual for Holderman to receive any jail time because of the amount of money involved in the case, sources said.

No additional charges are expected to be filed.

SLED is scheduled to complete its investigation by Friday. No other charges are expected because much of the money Holderman received was intended to be advances for trips he took as USC president, the sources said. Incomplete or missing records on the transactions made it difficult to determine whether the money was for Holderman's personal use and whether it was paid back.

Harpootlian refused Wednesday night to confirm or deny that Holderman will plead guilty.

Holderman's attorneys, Kermit King and W. Thomas Vernon, also declined to comment.

Holderman, 55, who lives and works in Jacksonville, Fla., has refused to talk with the news media. He resigned as USC president last May under fire for his spending practices. Holderman is free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond while waiting for his criminal case to be resolved.

He and his attorneys met with Harpootlian and SLED investigators for several hours Tuesday afternoon at SLED headquarters on Broad River Road to discuss the plea, the sources said.

The Richland County grand jury indicted Holderman on the charges March 22 and April 11. The indictments charge he improperly received $25,000 from the influential McNair Law Firm for helping one of its clients avoid prosecution in an international drug case.

Investigators with the state Tax Commission and SLED determined Holderman did not report the $25,000 on his state income tax returns when he received the money in separate checks of $8,000 in October 1986 and $17,000 in February 1988.

Holderman initially told SLED investigators that he had given some of the $25,000 to a friend who helped him out on the drug case and donated the remainder to a charity, the sources said. But he never produced any checks or receipts that showed anyone else ever received any of the $25,000. Holderman also told investigators that he considered the money to be his personal fee for work on the drug case.

Harpootlian has said there is no evidence of wrongdoing by the McNair firm because he said the firm produced records showing the $25,000 was intended to be a donation to a university-affiliated foundation that was not to be used for Holderman's personal expenses.

Tax Commission and SLED investigators, assisted by retired Internal Revenue Service agents hired by SLED, have gone through 12,000 to 15,000 vouchers for money given to Holderman by USC and university-affiliated foundations. Most of the money was for travel that Holderman undertook as USC president.

The investigation included reviewing audits of the Carolina Research & Development Foundation and the USC Educational Foundation dating back to 1982.

Sexual Harassment

EX-SOUTH CAROLINA PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

CPS -- University of South Carolina administrators are asking faculty and former student interns for information about sexual harassment allegations against former president James Holderman.

South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell has also gotten involved and has asked the state solicitor to investigate claims that Holderman made sexual advances toward some male students.

The Charlotte Observer broke the story on Oct. 20, quoting three students who said Holderman asked them to go to bed with him. A fourth student told the newspaper Holderman put his hand on the student's buttocks.

Holderman stepped down as president of USC after he was accused of mishandling the university's money -- allegations which subsequently led to a criminal charge of tax evasion.

Holderman did not comment on the Observer's story, but his attorney said he denied the charges. On Oct. 22, Holderman checked into a Columbia hospital for treatment of depression and exhaustion.

Meanwhile, current USC President John Palms issued a statement regarding the current status of Holderman, who has been on tenured leave without pay. Palms said he planned to begin tenure revocation hearings against Holderman on Dec. 1.

"The alleged incidents as reported constitute very serious violations of the ethical standards expected in university life," he wrote.

The story also alleged Holderman spent university money on gifts of clothing and jewelry he gave to the student interns.

"The possible improper use
of university finances and alleged attempts to intimidate students cannot be tolerated on any university campus," Palms said.

Palms has written letters to faculty and previous presidential interns asking for any information about Holderman's alleged improprieties.

John Palms

Palms will reimburse university for using its jet
USC president to pay part of cost for D.C. trip

By CHRISTINE SCHWEICKERT, JEFF STENSLAND and LEE BANDY Staff Writers

University of South Carolina President John Palms will pay $800 for his trip on the USC airplane to meet with Democrats in Washington about a possible U.S. Senate run, a school spokesman said Friday.
South Carolina Republican Party chairman Henry McMaster had called on Palms to reimburse the state for Wednesday's flight.

"This is an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds and a tremendous lapse in judgment by Dr. Palms," McMaster said Friday. "He should immediately reimburse the state for all or a portion of the cost of the flight."

USC officials said Palms already had planned the trip for university business, so he combined those matters with his political venture.

"This is new territory. It's a first-time occurrence for him," USC spokesman Russ McKinney said. "(Palms) said because part of the trip was political, it was appropriate for him to pay for some of it."

Palms met with national Democratic officials Wednesday to discuss the possible bid for the seat held by Republican U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond. Thurmond, 98, has said he will not seek re-election when his term expires in January 2003.

Palms flew on the university's seven-passenger, twin-engine King Air, which is operated by the USC Development Corp.

McKinney estimated the trip cost $2,000. Palms would pay about 40 percent of the trip's cost.

McKinney said Palms arrived at the $800 reimbursement "very roughly."

The plane makes regular trips to Washington on almost every Tuesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, USC trustee Michael Mungo said he wishes his colleagues on the board would quit speculating about whether Palms will run for U.S. Senate.

Mungo, who organized the search that brought Palms to Columbia 10 years ago, said Friday he and his fellow trustees would be "terrible ingrates if we did not give the man 30 days" to make a decision.

He wants trustees to hold their tongues in the meantime, whether they're speaking about Palms' pending deadline or speculating about who might replace him.

"It's very important for the university right now to have everyone cool it and let the chairman speak for us," said Mungo, a Columbia developer. "We want to look like very deliberate, not emotional, people."

Unless trustees can keep their opinions to themselves, Mungo said, no one will want to be a president working for bosses who can't agree. So far, he said, "there's been no collective thought" on who might be Palms' successor.

Board chairman Mack Whittle of Greenville said if USC has to choose a new president, it should look for someone who can help it reach goals trustees formulated late last year. The goals largely mirror Palms' goals, including seeing USC emerge as a nationally known research institution.

Whittle said he's content to wait until an April 12 board meeting to hear Palms' decision on the race. Palms has said he'll decide by May 1.

Board members set that meeting to discuss whether to increase the size of next year's freshman class, but the Palms issue probably will seize more attention.

Whittle, as a handful of his fellow trustees did earlier in the week, also wondered Friday whether Palms has wounded himself by having political aspirations.

"We've got issues that we didn't (have) before" Palms said he might be a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Whittle said. "There should be nothing political about (the presidency), and anything that we do that makes it political distracts from the mission of the university.

"Everybody probably has a label, but actively using that label ... is where you kind of step over the line.

"This needs to be something that (Palms) needs to deal with until the board meets," Whittle said. "Once he's definite about it, he and the university need to separate. The decision needs to be made sooner rather than later."

Unlike presidents, university trustees are political animals, said Whittle, who's active in Republican politics. Most trustees serve geographical areas and win their posts in legislative elections. The governor appoints two others.

Past chairman Eddie Floyd of Florence said he hadn't really thought about who might replace Palms and didn't think he should have preconceived notions on the subject.

"You don't narrow yourself down to what you exactly want because when you get out there to look, you don't know what you'll find," he said.

Floyd also thinks Palms "certainly has not helped himself. I just don't think this is healthy for the university or is healthy for him."

Floyd acknowledged that Palms hadn't started the speculation (--) it got out in front of him.

But Floyd said "it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that in South Carolina, if you're going to talk to all these people, it's going to get out."

Should Palms step down, former governor and U.S. Education Secretary #### Riley would make a wonderful replacement, trustee Toney Lister of Spartanburg told The Greenville News.

Riley was traveling and couldn't be reached for comment.

Pam Parsons

According to several news accounts, in February 1982 Sports Illustrated published an article entitled "Stormy Weather at South Carolina," in which Miss Parsons, the women's basketball coach at the University of South Carolina, was accused of having a lesbian relationship with one of her players. Miss Parsons was then fired. She accused Time, Inc., which owned Sports Illustrated, of libel and and sued the company for $75 million. The case was brought in United States Federal District Court in South Carolina. Time defended on the grounds that its story was true and, therefore, not libelous.

During the course of the trial, a 17-year-old player on Miss Parsons' basketball team was identified as having had a sexual relationship with her. Miss Parsons and the player denied, under oath, that they had been lovers. In other words, they swore in a civil case that they had not had sex with each other.

Unfortunately for them, late in the civil trial Babette "Babs" DeLay, a bartender at an establishment called the "Puss n' Boots" in Salt Lake City, learned about Miss Parsons' libel suit from the television news. She contacted Sports Illustrated. Miss DeLay then testified during the trial that she witnessed Miss Parsons and her young player dancing intimately and openly proclaiming that they were lovers. Needless to say, the jury returned a verdict for Time, Inc.

Importantly, when the civil case ended, the presiding federal judge, Clyde Hamilton, referred the matter to the United States Attorney's office and the FBI to investigate possible criminal perjury by Miss Parsons and her lover - both of whom denied ever frequenting "Puss n' Boots." The judge said that the witnesses had blatantly lied under oath. Again, the perjury involved these two individuals lying under oath in a civil case for the purpose of covering up their sexual relationship.

Soon thereafter, then-United States Attorney Henry McMaster filed perjury charges against the coach and her player. In November 1984, both women pleaded guilty to one count of perjury each. In February 1985, Judge Hamilton sentenced them to three years in prison -- four months of which they actually served in a Lexington, Kentucky penitentiary.

Pam Parson's Testimony

Hearing Focuses on Perjury's Effect

By LAURIE KELLMAN / Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) From judges and retired military officers to two women prosecuted for lying in sex cases, the House Judiciary Committee heard Tuesday from witnesses who said perjury undermines the court system and, if committed by a president, can weaken the military.

"We're exploring whether there's one rule of law for the powerful and the rulers and another for the ruled," Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., told the 37-member panel. "I just think it's important to understand that there are consequences for perjury."

But the legal witnesses were split on whether President Clinton committed perjury when he misled questioners under oath about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, and if so, whether that would be an impeachable offense.

"Perjury has gradations. Some are serious, some are less," said A. Leon Higgenbotham, a former federal appeals judge. For impeachment purposes, he said, lying about a sexual affair is about the same as lying about exceeding the speed limit in a car.

Democrats said Republicans had staged the perjury session to rally support for impeachment articles, which House leaders hope to bring to a floor vote later this month.

"This is an effort to increase votes on the floor because they're in a little bit of trouble," Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said.

"We did not need this panel of witnesses to explain the obvious," said Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

Several times, the panel veered off into debates about the purpose and direction of the impeachment inquiry, with Democrats angry that Republicans were seeking information about Clinton's campaign finances.

"We'll do it our way," Hyde snapped at one point.

The hearing featured 11 witnesses, some chosen by each party. Republicans questioned two women prosecuted for lying in sex cases as they explored whether Clinton should be held to the same standard.

One was Barbara Battalino, a former Veterans Affairs hospital psychologist who is serving a home detention sentence after pleading guilty to lying about a sexual relationship with a patient. She said she would expect a presidential pardon if Clinton is not impeached.

"If indeed there is no reason for anything ... more than censure, then certainly I would hope that the administration would consider leniency for me," she said under questioning by Rep. James Rogan, R-Calif.

"Because a president is not a king, he or she must abide by the same laws as the rest of us," Battalino said.

The committee also heard from Pam Parsons of Atlanta, a former University of South Carolina women's basketball coach who pleaded guilty to a federal perjury charge in the mid-1980s for giving false testimony in a civil case about a sexual relationship she had with a player. Parsons spent four months in prison and was put on probation for five years.

The punishment for lying under oath should be the same for everyone, Parsons said.

MCCOLLUM: Am I correct that the subject of your perjury was consensual sex?

PARSONS: No.

MCCOLLUM: No? What was the subject of the perjury then?

Please clarify that.

PARSONS: Well, it's really kind of funny. There is a gay bar called "Puss and Boots" in Salt Lake City, Utah. It wasn't easy to say I'd been there.

That occurrence was two years after the things that I was suing "Sports Illustrated" for. It wasn't a pretty picture for me. I thought I had many reasons for why I couldn't -- could say no, but it was an out-and-out lie. I had been there.

MCCOLLUM: And that's what the perjury was about? About whether you had been to that bar or not?

PARSONS: Yes. Now, I went to the FBI about that.

MCCOLLUM: All right.

George Felton

THE STATE
Sunday, June 23, 1991
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: 1B

EX-USC COACH FELTON CHARGED WITH DUI
By JOHN ALLARD, Staff Writer
Former USC basketball coach George Felton was arrested Friday night in Litchfield on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said Saturday.

A Highway Patrol trooper signaled for Felton, 38, to pull over after he spotted Felton driving erratically on U.S. 17, said Cpl. T.G. Cottingham. He said Felton, who was fired May 14 as head basketball coach at the University of South Carolina, was not speeding.

"Felton was weaving lane-to-lane when the trooper drove up behind him," Cottingham said. "He pulled over right away."

Felton declined to discuss his arrest when contacted Saturday night at his home in Litchfield. "Right now, I have no comment," Felton said.

Cottingham said Felton was arrested on a charge of first-offense DUI after he took a Breathalyzer test at the Georgetown Police Department. He said the test showed the level of alcohol in Felton's blood was above 0.10 percent -- the limit at which a driver can be presumed to be under the influence under state law.

Col. Ronald Alford, the Highway Patrol's commander, refused to release the specific result of the Breathalyzer test because he said it would prevent Felton from receiving a fair trial.

"I can only tell you whether the results were positive or negative because the pretrial publicity could hurt us when he comes to court," Alford said. "The result was positive."

The trooper did not require Felton to perform a field-sobriety test and did not report any abnormal behavior by Felton, Cottingham said.

"There was nothing unusual about the arrest," Cottingham said.

Felton was released about 2 a.m. Saturday from the Georgetown County Jail after paying $287 in bail, a booking officer said.

After announcing that Felton had been fired, USC Athletic Director King Dixon refused to discuss the reasons for firing the coach. Dixon said the decision was based on "accumulated weight and abundance of reasons."

When asked whether the reasons included rumors about a drinking problem and Felton's relationship with players and the media, Dixon said he did not find any truth to the rumors.

Felton had been the head coach at USC since 1986. He received a bachelor's degree in education from USC in 1975 and was a two-year letterman in basketball.

Rolando Howell

South Carolina freshman arrested on forgery charge
Sept. 1, 2000
AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina basketball recruit Rolando Howell surrendered to police Friday on charges of forgery and conspiracy.

Howell, a 6-foot-9 forward-center, was charged Friday with two counts of conspiracy and four counts of forgery.

Prosecutors said Howell and two other defendants, Mary Jones and Penny M. Moore, cashed hundreds of dollars in bad money orders obtained from a Columbia Bi-Lo grocery store.

"Basically, he and two co-defendants were alleged to have gotten money orders without paying for them and then using them for their own personal use," said Fifth Circuit Solicitor Warren "Barney" Giese.

Gamecocks coach Eddie Fogler said he would not comment while the case is active. Athletic department spokesman Kerry Tharp said Howell would be suspended from basketball-related activities until the case is cleared.

Howell, a graduate of Lower Richland High School in Columbia, is considered one of the top recruits signed during Fogler's seven-year tenure at South Carolina.

Giese said each of the six counts against Howell is a felony and carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. It was unclear what charges Jones and Moore faced.

Giese said Howell was alleged to have gotten about $1,600 from the scheme.

Watson Driving

Charlotte Observer, The (NC)

December 23, 2000
Section: SPORTS
Edition: ONE-THREE
Page: 3C
Column: NOTEBOOK

USC BACK WATSON ESCAPES INJURY IN LATE-NIGHT WRECK
Observer News Services
South Carolina running back Derek Watson was not injured after wrecking a teammate's car, police say.

An officer spotted a car Watson was driving and another vehicle speeding on Interstate 126 about 3:20 a.m. Thursday, Police Chief Charles Austin said. By the time the officer caught up, Watson had wrecked Ted Crawford's Acura Legend, causing damage estimated at $15,000.
"I feel really bad for Teddy," Watson said. "He's got to go home and tell his parents I totaled his car. I'm just sorry it happened."

Police did not identify the driver of the other car.

Watson was charged with driving too fast for conditions and driving with a suspended license, Austin said. His license had been suspended for failing to pay a previous ticket, the chief said.

Coach Lou Holtz discussed the accident with Watson. No disciplinary action was announced.

The team doesn't usually take action in car accidents unless the player is intoxicated, offensive coordinator Skip Holtz said. The police report indicated Watson did not appear to be drunk.

Derek Watson

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina running back Derek Watson shoved a student referee to the floor and threatened him during an intramural basketball game, according to a campus police report.

The student was not hurt and no charges were filed. The case has been referred to the student discipline committee, campus police said.

Watson on Monday was ejected from the game and twice was told to leave the court by Norman E. Jones.

"The scary thing for me was that he was making the threats," Jones said. "He's bigger than I am."

Jones said Watson was given two technical fouls, which constitutes an automatic ejection. Watson left the court but returned minutes later.

"Get off me [expletive]. You can't touch me. I'll punch you," Watson said, according to Jones. Watson left the physical education center before police arrived.

Jones, who said he didn't know it was Watson until someone told him later, said he doesn't plan to pursue charges.

Coach Lou Holtz doesn't plan any disciplinary action, USC spokesman Kerry Tharp said Tuesday.

Watson could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Watson, a 19-year-old sophomore from Williamston, led the Gamecocks in rushing the past two seasons.

Holtz suspended Watson from the Outback Bowl for violating team policy in December. That came after Watson was ticketed for driving with a suspended license and driving too fast, causing him to crash teammate Ted Crawford's car.

Derek Watson3

Woman who says Watson punched her in arm files charges Updated 8:08 PM ET May 7, 2001

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The University of South Carolina student who said Derek Watson punched her in the arm last week has formally filed charges against the tailback, a school official confirmed Monday.
University athletic spokesman Kerry Tharp said Watson has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

Student Richelle Beard told university police Watson punched her in the arm last Wednesday. Beard could not immediately be reached for comment.

Tharp said Watson voluntarily went to magistrate's court Monday for a bond hearing. Watson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Watson, who was the Gamecocks' first 1,000-yard rusher in four seasons, was suspended from the team on Friday. Watson was in court Friday to plead no contest to traffic charges unrelated to the current charge.

South Carolina coach Lou Holtz said the sophomore was suspended for disciplinary reasons. He did not say how long the suspension would last.

Holtz had suspended Watson late last year for disciplinary problems and Watson missed the Outback Bowl.

In December, Watson wrecked teammate Teddy Crawford's car, but was unhurt. Watson said a blown tire caused the accident, but a Columbia police report said Watson was ticketed for driving too fast and driving with a suspended license.

In February, Watson allegedly threatened a referee who had ejected the him from an intramural basketball game.

In Friday's traffic case, Watson was sentenced to 15 days in jail or a $100 fine. His lawyer, George Johnson, said Watson would pay the fine.

Derek Watson4

Posted Tuesday, August 7, 2001 - 5:25 pm

USC's Watson charged with driving without a license
Anna Simon
CLEMSON BUREAU

WILLIAMSTON - Gamecock star Derek Watson has had another brush with the law.

Watson has paid a $425 fine after being ticketed on charges of driving without a license and playing his car stereo too loudly, said Williamston Police Chief Richard Turner.

Police stopped Watson July 28 on Anderson Drive in his hometown of Williamston because his car radio was playing too loudly, according to authorities.

Watson was reinstated to the USC football team on Sunday. He was suspended May 4 after a woman alleged that he punched her in the arm. He was charged with simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

A court date has been scheduled for Sept. 13. However, Watson has applied to be accepted into the pre-trial intervention program, which would allow him to expunge his arrest from his record by successfully completing the program.

Watson PTI

Watson may enter program to erase assault charge

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina running back Derek Watson has offered to enter a program for first-time offenders that would erase an assault charge against him.
The junior cannot enroll in the pretrial intervention program, which includes counseling, community service and drug and alcohol testing, until he is approved by prosecutors.
If Watson gets into the program, he could be cleared to play in the Gamecocks' season opener Sept. 1.
Richland County prosecutor Barney Giese told The (Columbia) State he received Watson's application last week and will talk to police and the victim in the next few weeks before deciding if Watson can enter the program.
Watson, 20, was arrested in May when a 19-year-old female University of South Carolina student said Watson punched her in the arm. He was charged with simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
For Watson to be reinstated to the football team, the university has to approve his return, as does the athletic department, spokesman Kerry Tharp said.
The athletic department's policy regarding the return of a player who has been arrested is that "the situation must have run its course or that all indications are that the situation is going to come to a closure," Tharp said.
Watson is expected to meet with the Office of Student Judicial Affairs later this week, and the university could clear his return by early next week, coach Lou Holtz said.
When asked if there was any reason he wouldn't let Watson back on the team, Holtz said, "No, not right now."
"I'm very pleased with all of the things he has done this summer. But he also has some obligations to the university, which he has to handle," Holtz said. "That's between him and the university. He's going to meet with them later this week."
Watson has been suspended from the team since shortly after the assault charge was filed.
It has been a rough off-season for the Gamecocks star, who gained 1,066 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season.
Holtz suspended Watson for the Outback Bowl after he wrecked teammate Teddy Crawford's car at 3 a.m. Dec. 21. Watson was convicted of driving with a suspended license and fined $100.
In February, Holtz said he disciplined Watson again after an intramural referee said the running back threatened him after he ejected Watson from a basketball game. Holtz has not said what Watson's punishment was.
Another South Carolina athlete has successfully completed a pretrial intervention program in recent months. Rolando Howell entered the program after he was charged in August with cashing $1,560 in bogus money orders.
Howell was initially suspended from the basketball team but was reinstated after missing the first seven regular-season games.

Gamecock Class

Watson's actions affect others
By MICHAEL SMITH Staff Writer

As Derek Watson returns to the football field, those who have been involved in incidents with him go about rearranging their lives.

Richelle Beard, who pressed charges against the Gamecocks' star tailback for simple assault and battery, says she won't attend USC this year.

Norm Jones, a student referee who allegedly was pushed and threatened by Watson, says he will forego plans to attend graduate school at USC.

Watson talked Thursday about the lessons he has learned. The alleged victims say they have felt the repercussions of his lessons.

Beard pressed charges against Watson because he allegedly punched her in the arm May 2. Her parents fear for her safety because of the harassment she received by phone from anonymous fans.

Two days after she filed the complaint with USC police, the school moved her into a new dorm room for her protection, she said.

"My parents just want things to cool off for a year," Beard said from her Upper Marlboro, Md., home. "I'm going to go to an in-state school for a year and hopefully return to South Carolina next year. It's just better for me to stay home now."

Beard said she is angry that USC coach Lou Holtz has characterized Watson's action as a push instead of a punch, as it appeared on the USC police report.

"That is incorrect," Beard said. "He balled up his fist and he wasn't even aiming for my arm. He just punched me there. Lou Holtz doesn't know, he wasn't there."

Four witnesses signed statements that Watson punched her, she said.

Beard said she didn't intend to press charges until Watson failed to show for a hearing on the restraining order she had taken out against him.

"It just showed me he wasn't taking this seriously," she said.

When asked about Beard, Watson said he had no comment.

Norm Jones sympathizes with Beard. The student referee endured several anonymous phone calls after his incident. Campus security was assigned to follow him last spring, he said.

Jones said Thursday he will return to USC for his senior year. He had planned to take graduate courses this semester, but has decided against pursuing his master's at USC.

"I've got one year to go and I'll be glad to get out of there," said Jones, who added that he might go into the ministry after graduation. "There's no way I can support the football program after everything that's happened. I feel bad because this is my senior year. I'm supposed to enjoy it."

Jones did not press charges against Watson.

Double Standard For Derek

By Rick Scoppe

COLUMBIA - USC's disciplining of Derek Watson and basketball player Rolando Howell after they were charged with crimes has prompted Howell's mother and former USC basketball coach Eddie Fogler to suggest a double standard.

The handling of the cases also has led Fogler to unleash sharp criticism of athletic director Mike McGee. Fogler said he and McGee had a personality conflict and it appears to him that McGee may have punished Howell as a result. McGee declined to comment.

The charges each player faced weren't the same. Watson was charged with simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor, after a woman alleged he struck her. Howell faced felony charges in connection with allegations that he and two women falsified money orders worth $4,385.

Watson was suspended by football coach Lou Holtz for three months this summer and was reinstated to the team Aug. 5. Howell, an incoming freshman at the time of the charges, was suspended from all team activities after he was charged last September and he was suspended for seven regular-season games.

Howell was cleared to begin practicing Oct. 14 after the school said it learned that he had been cleared to enter Pretrial Intervention, which would clear his record if he successfully completes the program. Watson has applied for PTI and is awaiting word on whether he will be accepted.

Deborah Howell, the mother of the former McDonald's All-American, said she questions why Holtz was allowed to decide the discipline for Watson while McGee made the decision on Howell. "Why did Mike McGee have to come in on Rolando? That's a double standard," she said. "I don't know whether Eddie and McGee got along but whatever the situation, I see double standards."

Fogler said, "It's very unfortunate that the director of athletics let a personality conflict with a head coach factor into the severity of his suspension of a student-athlete. This reasoning is unprofessional. There is no place for someone with a get-even mentality to be in such an important position. It's no surprise his record was 29-52-2 as a head football coach."

McGee declined comment during a telephone interview. He also declined to answer written questions. "I'm not going into those kind of things," he said. "Those are internal to this department and will stay that way."

Later, in response to written questions from The Greenville News, McGee issued a one-paragraph statement in which he said he believed it was "in the best interests of the student-athletes to not discuss or analyze these issues in a public forum."

Howell - who has another son, Ivan, on the basketball team - said she was upset that McGee never contacted her about his decision on Rolando. "Matter of fact, I don't even know the man," she said. "I've heard of him, but I don't know him."

Rolando Howell declined to discuss his situation. His mother told the newspaper, "I got it cleared with him to discuss this with you. I said, 'This is your name.' You tell me don't go forth with it and I won't. If you tell me it's OK, I will. He said, 'Momma, it's double standards.' "

On the day Holtz announced the lifting of Watson's suspension, he said sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Garrison would be suspended for one or two games after being charged with shoplifting this summer. He said he and McGee "are sleeping" on a final decision.

Asked about the different actions taken in the cases of Watson and Garrison, Holtz said, "My hands are tied in a certain way" because of university policy. He compared the charges against Garrison to those against Howell. "It's a pretty good idea for uniformity throughout the department. Dr. McGee has said this is the way it is, and that's it."

Fogler, who resigned March 12, said he should have made the call on Howell, with input from McGee and other university officials. "I had no input," he said. "I'm not out to get Derek. I'm not out to get Lou Holtz. I do think Lou should have made the decision. I should have made the decision (on Howell)."

Fogler said he hoped his "poor" relationship with McGee didn't have an impact on McGee's decision on Howell. "I don't know the answer to that," Fogler said. "He arrogantly told me he was 'judge and jury,' as if he was throwing it back in my face as to getting even. He was mad when he said it.

"His tone of voice and his arrogance leads me to strongly believe he was trying to get even with the coach and unfortunately if that is true, then a student-athlete suffered, the team suffered, the basketball fans of South Carolina suffered."

Watson's lawyer, George Johnson, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Watson and Howell were high-profile recruits. Watson, a Palmetto High standout, turned down several big-name schools to come to USC, including Tennessee and Georgia. Howell, a star at Columbia's Lower Richland High, picked USC over, among others, Kentucky, Duke and Connecticut.

Howell's mother believes McGee's contentious relationship with Fogler influenced his decision on her son. "If you've got a problem with the coach, that's you and the coach's problem," she said. "Don't take it out on a kid."

She also questioned the timing of Watson's return to practice, compared to her son. "Rolando had to enter PTI," she said. "The paper printed Derek was going to. Has Derek?"

Fogler said McGee told him that Howell would not be cleared to practice until he was officially admitted into PTI. "Why is Derek Watson permitted to practice although he has not been officially committed to PTI?"

Deputy 5th Circuit Solicitor Johnny Gasser said no decision on Watson's PTI application will be made until next week at the earliest, when USC finishes two-a-day practices when classes resume on Thursday.

Watson Win At All Cost

Staff Editorial: Watson wins, but at what expense?

Running back Derek Watson has been cleared to rejoin the USC football team after being suspended for allegedly punching a female student on May 7. Is anyone surprised?

For the past few weeks, much has been made of Watson's impending court date and what would happen to the talented speedster because of it. But the real question during that time was how the media and the USC Athletics Department made this issue's outcome a mystery.

This concept is very basic. Football teams, or football teams that expect to win, don't cut people who accumulate 1,000 rushing yards in a season, much less the leading returning rusher in the Southeastern Conference.

We at The Gamecock are happy Watson is back with the team. We know how vital his talent is to the success of this team, and without his performances to look forward to, it's doubtful the Gamecocks would have been ranked as high as they are going into the 2001 season.

But, what standard does the team set when Watson has been allowed back after three separate incidents? If Watson was a regular student instead of an athlete, or better yet an athlete that could very well be the driving force behind the resurgence of USC football, what would happen if said student had been brought up on the same charges Watson has?

We realize head coach Lou Holtz and the Athletics Department took the right step when Watson was suspended for the 2001 Outback Bowl because of an incident with a teammate's car.

However, after Watson shoved and threatened an intramural basketball referee in February and then encountered the female student in May, Watson's "punishment" was not being allowed to take summer class or work out with the rest of the team. God forbid Watson would have killed somebody. That probably would have meant no Dean's List.

How many more opportunities will Watson get? Will he continue to get "just one more chance" for the remainder of his playing days at USC?

There needs to be a line drawn between being happy with performance on the field and doing the right thing.

What's more important, winning or winning with credibility?

Derek Watson5

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina running back Derek Watson was dismissed from the team Monday after he was charged last weekend with possession of marijuana, coach Lou Holtz said.

Officers arrested Watson in Greenville early Saturday in a nightclub parking lot, Greenville police Lt. Mike Gambrell said. Watson was issued a ticket, told to appear in court later this month then released, police said.

"I feel badly for Derek, but he clearly understood that if he chose to do certain things, he would no longer be a part of the USC football team," Holtz said in a statement.

Holtz, who was on a recruiting trip in South Carolina and could not be contacted, initially suspended Watson, but further investigation led to the dismissal.

Athletic department spokesman Kerry Tharp said Watson, a junior who led South Carolina in rushing two of the past three seasons, could seek legal counsel to prove his innocence in the case.

Messages left for Watson were not immediately returned.

Gambrell said undercover agents watched Watson sit in the passenger seat of a car, filling a hollowed out cigar with a substance from a clear plastic bag. Watson attempted to hide the items under the floorboard when the drug agents approached the car, Gambrell said.

"It wasn't like, 'Use the binoculars and see what you can see.' They were in the car right beside" the agents, Gambrell said.

Officers determined the bag contained 8.5 grams of marijuana, police said. The driver, Antwan Andre Galloway, 23, of Pendleton, also was charged with possessing 2.4 grams of marijuana.

Both men were cited at the scene and released. They each face a $497 fine and are scheduled to appear in Municipal Court on Jan. 30.

Watson also will face last year's simple assault and battery charge for allegedly punching a woman in the arm after Richland County prosecutor Barney Giese said Watson's drug arrest violated a pretrial intervention program for first-time offenders.

If Watson had successfully completed the pretrial program, the assault charge would have been erased.

The drug charge could mean academic trouble for Watson, too. The case will be the third matter reviewed by the Office of Student Judicial Affairs, said university spokesman Russ McKinney.

"Each and every case is handled on its own, however, clearly, previous disciplinary actions . . . have a bearing on future discipline," which ranges from mandatory counseling to expulsion, McKinney said.

Watson has a career total of 2,078 yards rushing on 437 carries and 16 touchdowns. He also has 58 receptions for 466 yards and two touchdowns.

The former "Mr. Basketball" from Palmetto High School also played with the Gamecocks' basketball team for two weeks before the 2002 Outback Bowl but hadn't been back since, athletic officials said. Watson had approached Holtz for permission to play basketball, saying he wanted to be in an organized program during the offseason.

Watson had a troublesome offseason last year aside from the simple assault charge.

He missed South Carolina's 2001 Outback Bowl when he was suspended following a wreck that happened while he drove teammate Teddy Crawford's car. Watson was ticketed for driving with a suspended license and driving too fast.

Holtz disciplined Watson nearly a year ago but refused to discuss the details after Watson was accused of threatening a student referee during intramural basketball.

Watson was fined $425 after he was charged with driving without a license and playing his car stereo too loudly in his hometown of Williamston on July 28

Watson Guilty

March 20, 2002

Ex-South Carolina Player Guilty

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 6:48 p.m. ET

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- Former South Carolina running back Derek Watson was found guilty of marijuana possession Wednesday, likely ending his chances of returning to the Gamecocks.

Watson was dismissed from the team shortly after his Jan. 12 arrest in a car outside a Greenville nightclub. He fought the misdemeanor charge because he wanted one last season at South Carolina.

His attorney, Beattie Ashmore, had argued the marijuana did not belong to Watson and he never intended to use it.

The car's driver, Antwan Andre Galloway, 23, of Pendleton, said he was responsible for tossing the bag of marijuana near Watson when police confronted them.

But two Greenville detectives testified they saw Watson licking cigar paper as if preparing a marijuana blunt to smoke.

Prosecutor Debra Gammons asked the jury not to give Watson special treatment because of his football career.

``The defense is because he plays football and because he has a promising career, he didn't possess marijuana,'' Gammons said.

The panel of three men and three women took about 50 minutes to return their verdict.

Greenville Municipal Court Judge Matt Hawley suspended Watson's 30-day sentence. He ordered him to 240 hours of community service, but waived a $200 fine after the 20-year-old said he was unemployed.

``While you may have made a serious mistake,'' Hawley said to Watson, ``you are an example for the youth of South Carolina ... and you need to refrain'' from such activities.

Watson left the courtroom shaking his head.

``I'm just a little confused right now,'' said Watson, the 1998 Mr. Football award winner at Palmetto High School in his hometown of Williamston. ``I will soon sit down with people close to me and try to make a decision on my immediate future.''

Derek Watson7

'Model citizen' Watson arrested (That's the real title of the story! No Joke!)

Monday, September 23, 2002
Associated Press

COLUMBIA - S.C. State running back Derek Watson was arrested for reckless driving early Sunday, the latest legal problem for the ex-South Carolina player.
Richland County sheriff's deputies charged Watson with driving left of the center line on a secondary road about 1:30 a.m., said Sgt. Chris Cowan. He also was charged with driving with a suspended license, a second offense.
Watson, who South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough said earlier in the day had been acting like a "model citizen," was stopped hours after he scored a touchdown in S.C. State's 50-12 win over Savannah State. He later was released on bond.
Watson has gotten into trouble several times since he gained 1,066 yards for South Carolina and helped Lou Holtz's Gamecocks get to the 2000 Outback Bowl, a year after the team went 0-11. Watson was suspended from the bowl game after wrecking a teammate's car while driving with a suspended license.
He is appealing a 10-day jail sentenced handed down last month by a Greenville municipal judge after Watson failed to complete community service work for a March 20 marijuana possession conviction.
After Holtz kicked him off the team following his January arrest, Watson signed with Division I-AA South Carolina State.
Bill Hamilton, the school's sports information director, said Pough would talk today about Watson's latest arrest

Andrea Gause

USC's Andrea Gause suspended indefinitely
Wide receiver Andrea Gause is suspended indefinitely because of assault charges stemming from an Oct. 23 incident on campus.
Gause is accused of shoving a female student, shouting obscenities and making threatening statements, according to a USC Police report. USC coach Lou Holtz said Gause is suspended until the case runs its course, meaning the redshirt freshman from Conway could miss the rest of the regular season. The last game is Nov. 17 against Clemson.

"We will not tolerate any abuse of the opposite sex, regardless of the circumstances or provocation," Holtz said.

Gause had started three games -- Alabama, Kentucky and Arkansas -- and played significant minutes against Vanderbilt. His suspension started with the Tennessee game. He has three catches for 50 yards this season.

The incident with the female student happened at East Quad dormitory where Gause lives. Campus police were called at 11:30 p.m.

Holtz said Gause will be treated no differently than running back Derek Watson, who was charged this past summer with simple assault and battery for punching a female student, a police report said.

Watson eventually entered into Pretrial Intervention, which allows him to expunge the charge from his record if he completes a program that could include community service and counseling.

Holtz was asked why Watson was not suspended from any games, as Gause was. Holtz said Watson was suspended from the team on May 7 until an outcome was apparent. Watson was reinstated to the team Aug. 5 and his PTI was granted Oct. 12, but USC officials say they were given notification before then that Watson would be accepted into PTI.

Just as with Watson, Holtz said Gause will be eligible for reinstatement to the team when an outcome of his case is apparent.

Gause, who is not allowed to practice with the team during his suspension, was not available for comment and the female student in the case, Xandria Whitehurst, did not return messages to her residence.

Boo Williams

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Two former South Carolina football players were arrested Saturday on charges of drug trafficking, a local television station reported.

A tip led Richland County sheriff's narcotics agents to the apartment of Boo Williams and Kevin Johnson where 40 pounds of marijuana was found, Capt. Sam Berkheimer told WIS-TV.

Both men are charged with drug trafficking. Johnson also was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon after the agents found a 9 mm handgun on him when he was arrested.

Williams was a standout on the Gamecocks' team as a running back until he injured his knee in game against Mississippi and was sidelined for the rest of the season.

Johnson was an offensive tackle last season, but did not get much playing time.

Corey Miller

Former football player Miller charged with felony
By Rick Scoppe
COLUMBIA BUREAU

COLUMBIA - Former National Football League and University of South Carolina star Corey Miller has been charged with a felony count of intimidation of a court official after allegedly threatening a former attorney and his family, according to the arrest warrant.

Miller, of Columbia, who didn't return a message Tuesday at his home seeking comment, was charged July 31 with intimidating attorney Eric Brand and his family with "threats of harm," the arrest warrant said.

Miller's attorney, Jones Andrews, said he had not seen the warrant but that he thought the incident was a misunderstanding.

Andrews, who said he was contacted only recently by Miller to represent him, believed the matter involved a dispute between Brand and Miller involving attorney's fees.

"I haven't really spoken in depth to Corey," Andrews said. "I will say that I played football down at Carolina and I was getting out when Corey was coming in, and I've always found Corey to be a very decent young man.

"While I don't know the magnitude of the charges, if it is a threat to someone, I think it's some misunderstanding that we'll hopefully we able to work out. ... This is certainly out of character."

The alleged incident stems from Brand's role in a judicial proceeding against the 32-year-old Miller, the arrest warrant said. If convicted, Miller could receive a maximum 10-year prison sentence, 5th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Johnny Gasser said. Miller was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bond Aug. 6. No court date has been set, Andrews said.

Brand didn't return messages left at his home and office. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Miller was a star defensive player for the Gamecocks and in the NFL, playing for USC 1988-90 and then with the New York Giants 1991-98. He was a sixth-round draft choice of the Giants in 1991.

Miller runs a clothing store in Columbia and is scheduled to serve as the color commentator for the rebroadcast of USC's football games on Comcast-Charter Sports Southeast.

Steve Taneyhill

THE STATE

Thursday, September 9, 1993
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: 1A

'I MADE A MISTAKE,' TANEYHILL SAYS
QB WILL TUTOR CHILDREN TO ERASE ALCOHOL CHARGE

By LISA GREENE, Staff Writer. Staff Writers David Newton and Bob Stuart contributed to this report.

Steve Taneyhill brought his long hair and earrings to Columbia city court Wednesday.

But he left the attitude at home.

An abashed Taneyhill apologized to the judge, then again in front of the media, after pleading no contest to an alcohol-possession charge.
"I made a mistake, and I feel real bad," said the University of South Carolina's star quarterback. "I hope no kids take it the wrong way."

Judge Jean Popowski agreed to a police recommendation that Taneyhill perform 30 hours of community service, after which the underage drinking charge will be dismissed.

Popowski ordered Taneyhill to spend that time tutoring homeless children.

"Because of who you are, you are a role model," she told Taneyhill. "I hope you will act as a role model for these children."

A Columbia police officer arrested Taneyhill, 20, at a USC party Sunday after seeing him with a beer in his hand. The arrest drew protests from students and football fans because Taneyhill was the only person arrested among more than 100 partygoers.

But officer M.A. Grogan said he didn't recognize Taneyhill, and the quarterback said Wednesday he didn't feel unfairly treated.

"I'm not mad about the whole incident," Taneyhill said. "I don't feel I was singled out."

Police Chief Charles P. Austin said that believing Taneyhill was singled out was "a natural reaction by people," but that it didn't happen.

"The justice system functioned properly," he said.

Taneyhill and his lawyer, Leigh Leventis, also refused to fault Grogan for choosing to arrest Taneyhill rather than ticket him.

"He did not necessarily need to be handcuffed and processed, but that's not unusual," Leventis said. "I've talked with Mike (Grogan) before, and Mike has on several occasions handled it in this manner."

He said he was surprised by the number of reporters who turned out to cover the city court hearing.

"On the way down here, Leigh said, 'It'll be just like after a football game,' " Taneyhill said. "And I kind of said, 'Nah, come on now, there won't be that many people around.' But I guess it's the media, and people want to know what's going on."

The Children's Garden, a nonprofit day shelter for children of homeless and troubled families, is where Taneyhill will volunteer. Program Director Harriet Atkinson said that she's delighted to have Taneyhill on board, and that he may help the shelter by drawing more attention to it. But she doubts the preschool-age children will take much notice of Taneyhill's star status.

"We feel like that's not going to be real important to these children," she said. "What's important is he'll be a nice, positive role model for these children."

Steve Taneyhill2/Matthew Campbell

SEATTLE (Feb 2, 1996 - 00:23 EST) ) -- South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill and Carolina Panthers tight end Mathew Campbell turned themselves in to Charleston police Thursday night in connection with a weekend barroom incident.

They each paid $628 bail and were released, police said. The players are scheduled to appear in municipal court Monday morning.

Warrants were issued this week after Taneyhill and Campbell got into a shoving match with a police officer at a local bar Jan. 28.

Both men are charged with assault and interfering with police.

Officers were at the bar to conduct a routine license and identification check, Charleston police spokesman Charles Francis said Thursday. An officer tried to escort a man with suspicious identification out of the bar and Taneyhill got in the way. Taneyhill allegedly pushed the officer repeatedly after being told it was police business, Francis said. Campbell also allegedly pushed the officer several times, Francis said.

The police report said the two players were pushing the officer in the chest and making aggressive statements.

The report said the two were not arrested that night because of the large number of onlookers and patrons standing around. But Francis said no arrests were made because of their size. "They did the best thing by not arresting them there," Francis said.

Campbell, a former Gamecock player, played with Taneyhill for two seasons.

Taneyhill captured headlines and attention in 1993 when he was arrested on an alcohol possession charge the night South Carolina defeated Georgia. The quarterback, then a sophomore, was picked up at an off-campus party for holding a cup of beer.

He pleaded no contest four days later and was given 30 hours working with children to clear his record.

Taneyhill, a senior, had his most remarkable season in 1995, throwing for 3,094 yards and 29 touchdowns. He was selected for the Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl all-star games and has been mentioned as a likely selection in the this year's NFL draft.

Campbell was among the first 10 players signed by the Carolina Panthers in 1994. The tight end stuck around throughout the season, praised by coach Dom Capers for his blocking skills.

Charlie Dayton, the Panthers director of communications, said the club was aware of the incident, but couldn't comment until they learned more about it.

Steve Taneyhill3

THE STATE
Friday, January 7, 2000
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: C3

AREA CORNER: TANEYHILL CHARGED WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT
From Staff and Wire Reports
Steve Taneyhill, South Carolina's flamboyant and flashy former star quarterback, was arrested on a disorderly conduct and public drunkenness charge when he got too loud in a club near his home of Altoona, Pa.

Sgt. Frank Shields of the Altoona Police Department said Thursday he didn't know Taneyhill's specific offense but said Taneyhill was brought to City Hall and booked on misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Shields said Taneyhill would have to appear before a local magistrate. If enough evidence is found supporting a charge, the matter would be sent to a Blair County court. Shields didn't know if any date was set for Taneyhill's case, but said the coach could waive his right to show up.

Taneyhill, who'll start his third season coaching Cambridge Academy this fall, said he was not drunk. "The incident was really minor," he said.

Taneyhill compared it to a traffic ticket. Shields said it was a little more serious than that. "Te only way these things usually go further is if someone is told to behave and they push it farther," he said.

Duce Staley

GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD
Thursday, February 15, 1996
Section: SPORTS
Edition: ALL
Page: C5

GAMECOCKS' TAILBACK STALEY SUSPENDED

Tailback Duce Staley, who led South Carolina in rushing last season, has been suspended from the football team after being charged with resisting arrest, coach Brad Scott said.

A police report alleged the 20-year-old Staley ``slammed (the officer) ... to the side with his hands and fled the scene'' after a traffic stop. The report also alleged Staley lied about who he was and said he was another player on the team.

Staley is also charged with disregarding a traffic signal and not having a driver's license in his possession during the incident early Sunday, police said.

In Charleston, attorneys for former South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill and Carolina Panthers tight end Matthew Campbell asked a municipal judge Wednesday for a jury trial for their clients.

The two are charged with assault and interfering with police in a Jan. 27 incident where the players allegedly shoved an undercover officer outside a Charleston nightspot.

Henry Taylor

Drug Bust Involves Former USC Athlete

Richland County Sheriff's Deputies say they made a large bust overnight
which netted them 37 pounds of marijuana.

The bust came after a deputy made a home alarm call to a residence on
Faircrest Way in the county. After finding the back door of the residence
unlocked, the deputy went inside the residence to check for signs of
burglary. Officials with the department say he then found two large packages
of marijuana in plain view.

Deputies say the owner of the house, 25-year-old Henry Taylor then arrived
home. Taylor, a former USC football player, told deputies he'd been walking
his dog.

Deputies then obtained a search warrant, which they say resulted in the
discovery of even more marijuana. They then arrested Taylor on charges of
possession of marijuana.

He's currently being held at the Richland County Detention Center pending a
bond hearing.

Darren Hambrick

Rookie done in by muddy socks

Cowboys linebacker Hambrick arrested for fleeing police

LACOOCHEE, Fla. (AP) -- A linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys was arrested after he fled from deputies who tried to pull him over for speeding, police said.

Darren Hambrick was charged with fleeing a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence Sunday.

Hambrick, who just finished his first season with the Dallas Cowboys, was arrested in his hometown of Lacoochee in Pasco County, about 39 miles northeast of Tampa.

Sheriff's officials wouldn't say why Hambrick ran from a traffic ticket, but the arresting deputy reported a "a very strong odor of unburnt marijuana" inside the pickup truck.

A Pasco County Sheriff's deputy said that when he turned on his flashers to pull over the speeding truck, the driver turned onto a muddy side road and drove through a stop sign.

At one point, the driver jumped from the moving truck and ran into the woods, leaving the passenger holding the steering wheel. Police did not identify the passenger.

Deputies found Hambrick's driver's license and NFL players card in a billfold stuck behind the truck's sun visor.

While deputies searched for the driver with a tracking dog, Hambrick drove up in another car wearing clean blue jeans. He told deputies he had been at Club Hollywood in Lacoochee and had loaned his rental truck to a friend.

But deputies said Hambrick, 23, matched the build of the driver and his socks were wet and covered with mud. The Sheriff's Office said Hambrick changed his muddy pants and shoes but forgot to change his socks.

Hambrick spent several hours in the county jail in Land O'Lakes. He was released on his own recognizance about 10 a.m. Sunday.

Hambrick played football at Pasco High School and both the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina. He was drafted by the Cowboys last April.

Rory Gallman/Tim Betts

Gamecocks coaches weren't aware of Gallman's criminal record
The Associated Press
"Copyright (c) 1997 The Associated Press"
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- One of two players kicked off South Carolina's football team after they allegedly broke into cars had a criminal record when he was recruited, but coaches didn't know that, head coach Brad Scott says.

Defensive tackle Rory Gallman was arrested in July 1995 on auto break-in charges. This past July he was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to make restitution.

Gallman, who played in five games this past season, and redshirted linebacker Tim Betts, both 19, were kicked off the team Monday after campus police arrested them for allegedly breaking into cars in a dorm parking lot.

"Part of our recruiting efforts is to learn as much about our recruits as we can, and we, I think, do a very good job of talking to the sources that are available to us," Scott said Wednesday.

Fans "just have to trust us" when it comes to signing players, he said.

At the time of his Lexington County arrest, Gallman was a rising senior at Columbia's Keenan High School and was being recruited by South Carolina and other colleges.

Gallman's coach at Keenan during his sophomore and junior years, Buddy Pough, was hired this week as a South Carolina assistant. He would not comment on what the college staff might have known about Gallman.

Betts and Gallman now face charges of auto breaking, attempted auto breaking, petit larceny and possession of tools of crime. Betts was booked on an additional charge of resisting arrest.

Betts, a freshman from Pensacola, Fla., was released on his own recognizance. Because he was on probation, Gallman was held at the Richland County Detention Center on $20,000 bond.

Scott said he had no choice but to dismiss the players permanently.

"I think it's ... unfortunate, but there are certain rules and policies that we have in this program that our players know if they step beyond those boundaries, it's not going to be tolerated," he said.

Dan Gawronski

Reserve linebacker arrested after dispute
Story from The State
By NAT NEWELL
Staff Writer

South Carolina sophomore linebacker Dan Gawronski has been suspended indefinitely from the team for violation of team policy, coach Lou Holtz announced Tuesday.

Gawronski was arrested Monday night for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and was still in jail late Tuesday afternoon.

"As head football coach there comes the responsibility to set a moral and spiritual tone for the team," Holtz said in a statement, "and this we have attempted to do. Even with the most consistent spiritual leadership at the top, some players make bad decisions. We feel comfortable that our program was not the cause of this player's poor decision."

"We have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior and we will never ignore, cover up or excuse bad conduct. We are entrusted to teach and develop young people to be responsible citizens. We will have no further comment on this matter until the legal process has run its course."

According to the incident report, Gawronski came out of Patterson Hall at 10 p.m. Monday and argued with USC police officers about a parking ticket. When the police tried to explain why he had gotten a ticket Gawronski "became very loud and (used) profanity," according to the report.

When he was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, Gawronski "stated he wasn't going to jail and that (the police) had better get more officers." Despite his resistance, Gawronski was taken to the ground, had handcuffs put on and was taken to Richland County jail.

Gawronski is a 6-foot-1, 240-pound reserve linebacker from Marshville, N.C., who appeared in two games in 1999. He made six total tackles, five of which were solo stops.

Gawronski was arrested in 1996 for injury to property and simple assault and in 1997 for misdemeanor larceny, injury to personal property, simple assault and communicating threats. He was found guilty of simple assault and communicating threats in '97 and plead guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana after being charged with felony possession in 1998.

"I was young then," he told the Monroe (N.C.) Enquirer-Journal last season. "Now I'm a little bit older. I learned from my mistakes. Basically I just have to know what I have to do."

* Depth charges. There were few surprises on the first tentative depth chart released Tuesday. Cecil Caldwell is not listed because he needs to graduate to receive a fourth-year of eligibility. USC remains hopeful he will receive his degree on time. . . . Former Dutch Fork High School star Eric Kimrey is listed No. 2 at quarterback with Carlos Spikes moving back to receiver. "(Kimrey's) protected the ball the best and he knows the offense best," Holtz said. "There's certain thing we believe in that we want to see and you have to reward the people that are giving you that. That's why Kimrey's at quarterback."

Former defensive lineman Thomas Hill is the No. 1 tight end ahead of Rod Trafford. "I said to the coaches, I make a lot of moves that aren't real smart sometimes but there's some this spring that show signs," Holtz said. "Thomas Hill at tight end (is one of them). He does some good things. He plays the game the right way." . . . When asked why defensive lineman John Stamper didn't make the depth chart Holtz said: "Stamper? Stamper? Is that your final answer? I need to survey the audience. I'd call a friend but I don't have one." . . . Melvin Paige, who has been battling a knee injury, is listed at No. 1 right tackle, but Holtz said backup Shane Hall has also done a good job.

* Extra points. Holtz on the windy and cold condition on the practice fields: "When we win the championship, the only place I'd ever leave here for is a school in the South. It is cold." . . . Practice didn't start until 5 p.m. because the team reviewed the tape of Saturday's scrimmage. "They way we competed when we got tired was probably the most disappointing thing," Holtz said. . . . The Gamecocks will practice at 4 p.m. Thursday and have another scrimmage on Saturday at noon.

--Nat Newell

Donald Marshall

THE STATE
Tuesday, July 7, 1998
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: C1

USC SIGNEE MARSHALL ARRESTED
LINEMAN CHARGED WITH BREAKING INTO, THEFT FROM VEHICLE
By KAMON SIMPSON, Staff Writer
Donald Marshall, a South Carolina football signee, was arrested last week on charges of breaking into and theft from a motor vehicle.

Summerville police arrested Marshall along with two others - Charles Joel Schuchert, 17, and Courtney Simpson, 17 - when all three were found in a car containing numerous stolen items, according to an incident report.

The report says that the three were spotted in a black Honda Accord in the parking lot of an Economy Inn in Summerville shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday, not far from where two cars had been broken into at a Holiday Inn parking lot. Apparently, the suspects' car broke down before they could leave the scene.

When questioned on the scene, Schuchert told officers that he was trying to fix his car and that he had just picked up his friends, Marshall and Simpson, and that they were on their way home after driving around.

After being detained, Schuchert admitted to breaking into two vehicles, according to the report. A search of his car revealed numerous burglary tools, screwdrivers, flashlights, stereo equipment, radar detectors and a BB gun. All three suspects were arrested and taken into custody at that point.

Marshall, listed as a 6-6, 260-pound offensive lineman when he signed with the Gamecocks in February, played in the Shrine Bowl and picked USC over Clemson, N.C. State and Wake Forest. He was one of only four offensive line signees, but his future with the program depends on the outcome of last week's charges.

"We've been made aware of Donald's situation, and we'll await the outcome of the legal process, and then a decision will be made whether or not Donald will join our football program in August," USC coach Brad Scott said.

"When we recruit a young man, and he makes the decision to come to South Carolina, it is understood that he is expected to abide by our team's policies. We will not tolerate anything less."

Ray Stackley, Marshall's coach at Stratford, contacted USC's coaches to let them know about the arrest. Stackley said both he and Marshall have been in contact with coaches since then.

"I'm sure if it ends up being a serious matter, and he (Marshall) is found guilty of the charges, his scholarship could be in jeopardy," Stackley said. "But his parents are pretty adamant that he's innocent."

Stackley said that Marshall claims to be the victim of bad timing - of being in the wrong place, with the wrong people, at the wrong time. He points out that his former player has "never been in any trouble," since arriving in South Carolina from Washington, D.C., before the start of his 10th grade year.

"According to his parents and him, he's going to be completely cleared, completely exonerated of the charges," Stackley said. "It's my understanding that nobody got caught stealing anything. The car he was in broke down. ... I'm thinking the other boy who was with him took the blame."

Troy Hambrick

THE STATE
Wednesday, January 29, 1997
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: B3

USC RUNNING BACK FLAGGED IN TRAFFIC STOP
By CLIF LeBLANC and KAMON SIMPSON, Staff Writers
The USC football team's up-and-coming tailback has been arrested on a marijuana charge, but early indications are the charge could be dropped.

Troy Hambrick, 20, was arrested about 12:45 a.m. Thursday on Two Notch Road and charged with intending to sell marijuana. The charge was filed because more than an ounce of the drug was found in a 1983 gray Chevrolet Caprice Hambrick was driving.

The star of the Gamecocks' 1996 win over Clemson also was charged with four traffic offenses: driving without a license in an unregistered car that had no tag and no insurance, the Richland County Sheriff's Department reported.

Hambrick was arrested along with James Henry, 35, of Brooksville, Fla., who at first wouldn't identify himself and tried to run, the police report said. Later, Henry told authorities he bought the marijuana and slid it under Hambrick's car seat when the officer stopped them, said Deputy 5th Circuit Solicitor Johnny Gasser.

Gasser stopped short of saying Hambrick's drug charge, a felony, would be dropped. But the prosecutor said that if further investigation corroborates Henry's written statement, there would be no legal grounds for prosecuting Hambrick.

"Does he get special treatment because he's a football player?" Gasser asked rhetorically. "The answer is, no. We would treat him as we would anyone else in these circumstances."

The prosecutor said investigators would consider other factors such as that Hambrick, whose legal name is Troy Grant, showed no signs of using alcohol or drugs that night and cooperated with deputies. He also agreed to a search of the car even though it was stopped only for a traffic offense. Hambrick also has no criminal record, Gasser said.

Both men were charged because initially neither claimed the drugs, the prosecutor said. Two days later, Henry spoke to detectives about the facts of the case. Hambrick was released on his word that he would show up for court. Henry was under a $10,000 surety bond.

The arrest occurred at Two Notch and Risley roads, near the Sheriff's Department headquarters. When the deputy looked inside the car, he found two cans of beer - one empty and the other nearly full.

But Hambrick was not asked to take a field sobriety test because he showed no other signs of drinking or using drugs, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Joseph Pellicci. The football player also said he didn't know the drugs were in the car.

Henry, who owns the car and is an acquaintance of Hambrick's from Florida, is charged with the same drug offense as well as having open containers of alcohol and resisting arrest.

Kerry Tharp, a spokesman for the USC athletic department, said Hambrick has been suspended indefinitely from the football team until the charges are resolved. That's routine whenever an athlete is charged with a criminal offense, Tharp said.

Head coach Brad Scott was recruiting in Florida Tuesday and unavailable for comment, Tharp said.

Hambrick played in 11 games as a true freshman for the University of South Carolina. He was the team's second-leading rusher with 43 carries for 286 yards and five touchdowns.

He was expected to enter spring football practice listed at No. 1 tailback on the team's depth chart.

Aubrey Brooks

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
Thursday, August 29, 1996
Section: SPORTS
Edition: TWO\&3
Page: 6B
Column: COLLEGE FOOTBALL

FORMER USC LINEBACKER ARRESTED FOR BATTERY
Observer Staff and News Services
Former South Carolina linebacker Aubrey Brooks has been arrested for the beating of a Sumter, S.C., man who has been hospitalized since May.

Sumter Police Chief Harold B. Johnson said Wednesday that Brooks, 23, of Sumter, was taken into custody Tuesday by campus police at the university. Brooks' 24-year-old brother, James, was arrested Monday, Johnson said.

Both men were in custody late Wednesday; it was unclear if a bond hearing had been held.

The brothers are charged with assault and battery with intent to kill in the May 8 beating of Theo Cameron. Cameron was hospitalized and had been unconscious until this past week.

Brooks was a senior starter for the Gamecocks last season, but he apparently was taking classes this fall, Johnson said.

Hank Campbell

THE STATE
Wednesday, November 30, 1994
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: C3
Memo: USC NOTES

CAMPBELL'S TROUBLES ICED
LINEBACKER WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR BOWL
By DAVID NEWTON, Staff Writer
USC linebacker Hank Campbell will spend some time in the penalty box but he won't be suspended for the Jan. 2 Carquest Bowl after his arrest last week at a hockey game in the North Charleston Coliseum.

Campbell appeared in North Charleston Municipal Court Tuesday. The disorderly conduct charge was dropped, and the trespassing charge will be dropped after 90 days if he has no further legal problems.

Campbell was asked to leave the coliseum during a South Carolina Stingrays game because he was throwing things onto the ice. He was arrested after sneaking back in through another entrance.

USC coach Brad Scott said Campbell's punishment will be handled internally.
Merry Christmas.

Kelvin Lamont

Athlete arrested again on sex charge
A 19-year-old Spartanburg man whose arrest two years ago cost him a possible Division I college football scholarship was arrested again this week.

By Teresa Killian

A 19-year-old Spartanburg man whose arrest two years ago cost him a possible Division I college football scholarship was arrested again this week.

Two-year-old charges of kidnapping and assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct are pending against Kelvin Lamont Lee, 19, of 216 Herbert St. This week, police charged him with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

A 13-year-old girl who sought medical treatment last month told police she had a sexual encounter with Lee days before and with another man two years earlier, according to a police report.

Randall Terrell, 20, of 209 Amherst Drive, Spartanburg, also was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Lee was considered a major college football prospect entering his senior season at Spartanburg High School in 2000. A 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound offensive lineman who had made a verbal commitment to play for the University of South Carolina, Lee was denied enrollment at Spartanburg High for his senior season after he and three others were arrested in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. USC dropped its interest in Lee after his arrest.

Prosecutors expect the trial against Lee and three others charged in the incident to take place this summer.

An offensive lineman from Spartanburg named Kelvin Lee was listed on the 2001 football roster for Mississippi-based Copiah Lincoln Community College.

Lee was released from jail under a $10,000 bond. He could not be reached for comment.

Terrell was being held Tuesday in jail under a $7,500 bond

Carlos Turner

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
Friday, December 3, 1993
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FOUR
Page: 2B
Column: In brief

EX-USC RECRUIT ARRESTED
Observer News Services

Former high school basketball star and South Carolina recruit Carlos Turner has been arrested on a charge of attempted murder in Louisville.

Turner, who has already spent 11 months in a state facility for stabbing an ex-girlfriend at least 20 times, entered a plea of not guilty on the new charge Thursday.

Police said Benny Berry, who was shot and wounded in an incident Nov. 13, named Turner as his assailant. Turner's lawyer said his client acted in self-defense.

Turner has had a series of arrests since he signed a national letter of intent Nov. 14, 1991, to play basketball with the Gamecocks. The stabbing occurred the next day.

After serving time in prison, he completed a semester at Louisville and had hoped to join the basketball team before he was arrested two more times.

Jamie Watson and Durrant Williams

GAMECOCKS BASKETBALL PLAYERS FACE CHARGES
Edited by Joey St. John
By The Observer Staff and News Services

Two South Carolina basketball players have been charged with resisting arrest after allegedly trying to enter an on-campus party.

Jamie Watson, the Gamecocks' leading scorer last season, and recruit Durrant Williams were arrested Friday night outside Russell House on the South Carolina campus, police records said.

Watson, a two-year starter, was also charged with interfering with a police officer, according to campus police records.

Williams, who transferred from Palm Beach (Fla.) Community College this season, was also charged with disorderly conduct.

Williams will appear in magistrate's court Oct. 28 on the disorderly conduct charge.

The other charges against the two will be heard in Circuit Court.

Bombs

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Thursday, February 11, 1993

Section: MAIN NEWS

Edition: THREE

Page: 1A

5 MORE USC ATHLETES CHARGED IN BOMB BLASTS NEAR CAMPUS\
By PETE IACOBELLI, Associated Press

Five more University of South Carolina athletes were charged Wednesday in
connection with chemical bombs exploded at two businesses in the Five Points
neighborhood near campus.

Charged were Dino VerBrugge, 18, of British Columbia, Canada; Peter D.
Cadwell, 22, of Nashua, N.H.; Franklin T. Coleman IV, 19, of Albany, Ga.; Jeff Palm, 21, of Duluth, Ga.; and Charles Lewis Hardaway Jr., 19, of Greenville,
S.C., police said. VerBrugge`s hometown was not available.

Hardaway is a kicker on the football team. The others are swimmers.
Gamecocks swimmer John Moore had been arrested at the scene Friday.

Moore was the only team-leader among the athletes. He had South Carolina`s
top time in the 100-meter breaststroke this season at 57:48.

No one was hurt in the incidents. Swimming coach Keith Switzer said the
athletes called them pranks.

``I think we`ve got some young men that had some very bad judgment, and
what they thought might have been a prank was not taken that way,`` Switzer
said. ``They`re some scared young men, and they rightfully should be.``

Moore was freed on $7,500 bond. Bond for the other five was set at $1,500
each, police Capt. G.R. Clark said.

All six were charged with illegally making a device designed to cause
damage, he said. Without detonators, the devices did not fall under the anti- bombing laws, he said.

The homemade devices went off at a bank automatic teller machine and at the entrance of a restaurant. Police said the bombs contained an unspecified, but common chemical and silver foil in a bottle. When the chemical reaction built up pressure, the devices exploded.

The devices caused little damage but, in the case of the restaurant, the
blast and smoke scared people, police said.

Switzer said he put the swimmers under a 9 p.m. curfew, banned them from
practice and told them they were to go only to classes and study halls.

``We don`t condone these actions in any way, and they are being disciplined according to USC athletic department policy,`` Switzer said.

Football coach Sparky Woods said Hardaway had been suspended from the team
and was under the same restrictions.

Switzer said there likely would be further discipline after the criminal
charges are resolved. He would not discuss details.

``We`ve never had anything of this magnitude happen,`` Switzer said. ``It`s a black eye on a sport that usually had no problems.``

Swimmer Dan Phillips said his suspended teammates regret what happened and
hope the rest of the squad can recover in time for the Southeastern Conference championships that begin next Wednesday.

``It`s a difficult situation right now, and we are all trying to handle it
the best we can,`` he said. ``We`re just trying to put it behind us.``

Diver Matt Borman said he was surprised when he learned of the incidents.

``It`s kind of a downer when it happens to one of your best friends (John
Moore), but we`re close-knit and we`ll be able to pull this out,`` Borman
said.

Police still are investigating other similar bombings on and off campus
since November. No charges have been filed in those.\

Tony Watkins and Toby Cates

THE STATE
Tuesday, March 10, 1992
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: 3C

USC'S WATKINS AND CATES
ARRESTED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS
By BOB STUART, Staff Writer
South Carolina football coach Sparky Woods will make a decision before spring practice about the status of two USC players arrested last week on criminal charges stemming from separate campus incidents.

Kerry Tharp, USC's sports information director, said Woods will make a decision about freshmen defensive backs Tony Watkins and Toby Cates in the next several days. Tharp said USC begins spring practice a week from today.

The 20-year-old Watkins was arrested Wednesday night at USC's Capstone Dorm after USC police responded to a reported fight.

USC spokeswoman Debra Allen said police arrived soon after receiving an 11:25 p.m. call and found no fight. But police, responding to information from someone at the scene that Watkins had a gun, found one after searching the player's bookbag.

He was charged with carrying a weapon unlawfully and possessing a weapon in a public building.

The two charges are felonies, according to 5th Circuit Solicitor #### Harpootlian. The unlawful weapon charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail, a $5,000 fine or both.

The public building charge is punishable by five years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Harpootlian said Watkins' case will be presented to the Richland County grand jury later this month, and could go to trial in April.

About an hour later, early Thursday morning, USC police arrested Cates at the Bates West dorm.

Again, the police responded to a reported fight but found none.

But Allen said the police did report that Cates was "intoxicated and was acting in a boisterous fashion."

He was charged with disorderly conduct, which carries a penalty of 30 days in jail or a $200 fine. Cates told The Spartanburg Herald-Journal Monday night that he has to appear in Magistrate's Court March 26.

The arrest of Cates marked his second brush with the law in the past five months. He and two other USC players were arrested in October and charged with attempting to defraud a telephone company by charging calls to a credit card. Cates was later allowed to enter a Pretrial Intervention Program on that charge.

Both Cates and Watkins were defensive starters for the Gamecocks during the 1991 season. Cates was a starting cornerback who missed three games with an ankle injury.

Watkins started the final eight games of the season at strong safety after serving as a backup and special teams player for the first three games.

Patrick Hinton and Issac Harris

THE STATE
Thursday, October 29, 1992
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: 2B
Memo: METRO REPORT BRIEFS

EX-GAMECOCK FOOTBALL PLAYERS
CHARGED WITH RAPE
Two former University of South Carolina football players were arrested last week on criminal sexual conduct charges.

Patrick Hinton, 23, of Atlanta, and Isaac Harris, 24, of Gadsden were charged Oct. 21 with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, said Capt. Bill Brown of the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

Both were charged with entering a 24-year-old woman's Battery Walk Court apartment on the night of Oct. 13, and forcing the woman to have sexual intercourse.

Brown said Hinton and Harris each were released on $2,000 personal recognizance bonds.

Hinton was a starting linebacker and Harris a starting offensive tackle for the Gamecocks from 1987 to 1990.

In 1988, Hinton earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors from The Sporting News for his performance against N.C. State.

Credit Card

THE STATE

Thursday, December 5, 1991
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: 1C

USC PLAYERS CHARGED
IN PHONE FRAUD CASE

By BOB STUART, Staff Writer. Sports Writer David Newton contributed to this report.

Three more University of South Carolina football players have been arrested on charges of defrauding a telephone company by charging telephone calls to a credit card, USC spokeswoman Debra Allen said.

Arrested by USC campus police on Tuesday and charged were Eric Brown, 20, a redshirt sophomore linebacker from Baltimore; Ernest Dixon, 20, a sophomore linebacker from Fort Mill; and Jabbar Mayse, 19, a redshirt freshman defensive end from Forest City, N.C. Allen said the warrants were taken out by MCI.

Allen said the three were released on $1,000 bonds. Their trial date is Jan. 3; if convicted of the misdemeanor charges, each faces a maximum fine of $1,000 and one year in prison.
USC players charged in October as part of the probe were linebacker Lawrence Mitchell, cornerback Toby Cates and linebacker Keith Franklin.

They were granted pretrial intervention, or PTI, under which charges are dropped in return for community service or restitution. Each of the three had to pay $300 for PTI's cost and make restitution to MCI.

MCI spokesman Steve Fox said the latest arrests should conclude an investigation of credit card fraud at USC. Fox said he did not know the dollar amount of the calls.

USC football coach Sparky Woods said Mayse, Dixon and Brown would be placed under curfew until the matter is settled. "I hope we've seen the last of this," Woods said.

Joe Rhett and Troy McKoy

THE STATE

Thursday, September 5, 1991
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: 1C

RHETT, MCKOY ARRESTED
AFTER ON-CAMPUS FIGHT
USC BASKETBALL PLAYERS SAY THEY'RE INNOCENT
South Carolina basketball players Joe Rhett and Troy McKoy were arrested by campus police early Saturday morning in connection with a fight at USC's student union.

Rhett, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, and McKoy, a 6-7 junior swingman, were charged with disorderly conduct.

Additionally, USC student John C. Simmons said Wednesday he signed a warrant charging Rhett with assault and battery.
The police incident report said Rhett struck Simmons in the eye.

Rhett and McKoy said they are innocent of all charges and that basketball coach Steve Newton believed them.

"The guys we were supposed to beat up, they're friends of ours," McKoy said.

But Simmons said he was hit by Rhett and that Rhett initiated the fight, which occurred around 1 a.m. at the Rusell House.

Simmons said he was arguing with some members of a USC fraternity. At that point, Simmons said, McKoy stepped in to act as a peacemaker. "I guess Rhett thought Troy was in trouble," Simmons said. "He started swinging. He hit four people. Joe threw the first punch. I think he threw most of them."

McKoy and Rhett describe the incident differently.

Rhett said an argument started between members of a campus fraternity and another group at a Russell House party, and that McKoy tried to be a peacemaker. He said a member of the other group started "talking junk to Troy."

"That's when I came over there," Rhett said. "This other guy just just came up on me. I thought he was trying to throw a sneak punch. He half swung, so I swung at him. That was it."

Jamie Brigman, a USC student, also gave campus police a report that supported Simmons.

Brigman said in Wednesday's edition of the student newspaper, The Gamecock, that Rhett hit Simmons and four other people. "Joe Rhett started the whole thing," Brigman said.

Rhett, who had a pacemaker implanted February 17, 1990, said members of the fraternity party came to the police department and said "we were trying to break it up."

He said the article in The Gamecock was blown out of proportion.

"I have a bad heart," Rhett said. "I couldn't do all that."

Derrick Seabrook, a USC student, also was involved in the incident. He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

USC spokeswoman Debra Allen said campus police were called to the Russell House ballroom at 1 a.m. Saturday to investigate a reported fight. The police report said officer Tony Rhinehart witnessed Rhett, McKoy and Seabrook fighting with Simmons on the second floor of the Russell
House lobby.

Rhinehart broke up the altercation, only to have it resume. McKoy said he and Rhett were outside by the time Rhinehart arrived.

"When he came outside, he said get in the car," McKoy said.

Rhett and McKoy were taken to Richland County Detention Center and booked. They were released at 10:34 a.m. on a $200 personal recognizance bond. They have a Sept. 12 court date.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $218 fine.

Rhett and McKoy also face possible discipline by the university and athletic department. The university cannot make an official statement about whether disciplinary action will be taken because student disciplinary records are protected under federal regulations on student privacy.

Newton said he would take any disciplinary action after the investigation is complete.

The USC coach told The Gamecock he was encouraged that "perhaps our guys were in a positive mode in trying to break up a disturbance."

"I certainly didn't indicate these young men were innocent," Newton said. "This is totally in conflict with our philosophy that our new staff will implement. Our program will reflect that of a positive student-athlete in control of their behavior. We won't condone anything but good citizenship.

"We know this is an inadvertent situation, one that we regret. Until we get a good grip on what actually occurred, we'll refrain from drawing conclusions."

Newton said he has no set policy on discipline.

"I've had temporary suspensions and had suspensions for as much as a semester or a year," he said. "Hopefully, that will not be the case. But you can rest assured we will not be turning our head."
Gamecocks' Joe Rhett: Fighting incident blown out of proportion.

George Rogers

THE STATE

Saturday, June 16, 1990
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: 2B

ROGERS INDICTED ON DRUG CHARGES
By MARGARET N. O'SHEA, Staff Writer
The surprise catch in an April drug raid, former University of South Carolina football star George Rogers, was indicted Friday on charges of possession of marijuana and cocaine and intent to distribute cocaine.

Narcotics officers said the 31-year-old Heisman trophy winner had marijuana in his pocket and cocaine in his nose when they burst into a St. Andrews apartment where they suspected drugs were being used and sold.

A Richland County grand jury also indicted the two men arrested with Rogers during the April 4 raid. Marcus Gilliam, 28, of 34 Cromwell Manor Drive was charged in indictments with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and with possession of marijuana. Melvin Metze, 33, of 802 Village Lane was charged with possession of marijuana and trafficking in cocaine.

All three men have been released on $5,000 bonds.

Rogers had 4.3 grams of marijuana and cigarette rolling papers in a shirt pocket when he and the other men were arrested. Richland County Sheriff's Capt. Leon Lott said a partially smoked marijuana cigarette was found in Rogers' car.

The detective said Rogers, who was implicated in a professional football drug scandal in 1982, was not a target of investigation but happened to be in the apartment when it was raided.

Lott said detectives found 18.2 grams of cocaine in a brown tote bag, 2.5 grams of cocaine in a plastic bag on a coffee table and cocaine residue on playing cards and a plate on the coffee table. He said all three men were sitting at the coffee table when police arrived.

He said Gilliam had a small package of cocaine in his shirt pocket, while Metze admitted owning the tote bag that contained the 18.2 grams of cocaine.

Justin Harris

USC's Harris suspended
By STEVE WISEMAN
Staff Writer

Justin Harris, a starting outfielder on South Carolina's College World Series-bound baseball team, has been suspended from the team following his arrest early Monday morning on disorderly conduct and public drunkenness charges.

The 21-year-old Harris, a junior at USC, was picked up by Columbia police at the 2200 block of Devine Street at approximately 2 a.m.

According to police records, Officer D.S. Cribb was conducting a traffic stop on a 1995 Ford pickup when Harris jumped on the back of a vehicle and began pounding on the glass window and yelling obscenities at a passenger inside.

Harris was transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center where he remained until being released Monday night following a bond hearing. A court date is set for Wednesday morning.

USC spokesman Kerry Tharp said USC baseball coach Ray Tanner met with Harris Monday night after reviewing the case and decided on the suspension.

The Gamecocks players had Monday off and are scheduled to resume practice this morning.

Harris' status for the College World Series, which begins Friday when USC meets Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. in Omaha, Neb., is uncertain.

Harris, from Longwood, Fla., has started all 69 games for the third-ranked Gamecocks this season, splitting time between centerfield and second base. He's batting .286 with four home runs and 28 RBIs.

He was arrested nine hours after the Gamecocks scored five runs in the ninth inning to beat Miami 6-4 and earn the school's first trip to the College World Series since 1985.

Craig Rogers

State, The (Columbia, SC)

August 24, 2000
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: B3

EX-USC DEAN FOUND GUILTY ON LARCENY CHARGES
CLIF LeBLANC, Staff Writer
A Virginia judge on Wednesday found a former USC dean of engineering guilty of misusing public funds at a college there, but the college administrator will appeal the felony conviction, his lawyer said.

Craig Rogers, 40 and living in South Carolina, was convicted of two counts of larceny under false pretenses and sentenced to three years probation, said defense attorney Jimmy Turk, of Blacksburg, Va.
Rogers must repay $586 in restitution and then will be on unsupervised probation, under a sentence imposed by Montgomery County Circuit Judge Ray Grubbs, Turk said. Rogers could have gotten up to 10 years.

Prosecutors said Rogers used $586 in state funds to pay for a $377 airplane ticket and $209 in other expenses on a 1996 trip to Dallas to watch a Virginia Tech basketball game. Rogers was attending a work-related conference in Denver when he took the side trip to Dallas.

Prosecutors could not be reached for comment after Wednesday's sentencing hearing in Christiansburg, Va.

Turk said prosecutors told him that they believed Rogers may have misused $200,000 to $750,000 of Virginia Polytechnic Institute funds between April 1993 and August 1996.

Rogers was director of Virginia Tech's Center of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures before coming to the University of South Carolina in 1996. He resigned from the USC faculty in August as his sentence in Virginia approached.

"I'm kind of shocked, and to be perfectly honest I'm disgusted, with (Grubbs') decision," Turk said Wednesday.

He said he will file with the Virginia Court of Appeals on grounds of insufficient evidence for a conviction. Turk expects a hearing in six months and a ruling six months after that.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that Rogers never accepted responsibility for his actions.

"In light of the court's findings, he's never once said, 'Yes, I did that. I'm sorry,' " assistant attorney general David Rigler told the judge. "He blames everyone else."

Grubbs ruled that Rogers' acts were intentional, not inadvertent as he had maintained. Grubbs said the facts left him with no choice but to convict Rogers.

Rogers chose a trial before a judge rather than a jury because he felt the case was too complex for jurors, Turk said. Turk asked the judge to use his discretion under Virginia law to not convict Rogers. Instead, Turk sought a second chance for Rogers because of his pristine presentence report, which included a letter of recommendation from former South Carolina Gov. Robert McNair.

Virginia law allows judges to take cases "under advisement," which means an offender gets an opportunity to pay a penalty rather than have a criminal conviction. If the offender violates the judge's conditions, the conviction becomes official, according to Turk, who said he has been a criminal defense attorney 17 years.

When charges were first filed, Rogers faced eight offenses. Turk said prosecutors dropped two charges before an April trial. Judge Gruggs dismissed four charges, leaving the two false pretenses charges, the defense attorney said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Larry E. Hawkins

THE STATE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1996
Section: METRO/REGION
Edition: FINAL
Page: B2

STATE REPORT
From Staff and Wire Reports
MIDLANDS USC ASSISTANT PROFESSOR FACING DRUG CHARGES

* A USC assistant professor of engineering has been arrested for possession of steroids, marijuana and cocaine.

Larry E. Hawkins, 45, of South Beltline Drive, is accused of using blank prescription forms to obtain steroids, or having other people obtain them, said Lexington County Sheriff's Department spokesman Gary Morgan.

Hawkins was arrested after a seven-month undercover investigation by the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and a Drug Enforcement Administration task force.

Officers searching his home and office seized two computer systems that Hawkins may have used to make the prescriptions. They also found a "quantity" of illegal steroids, marijuana and cocaine.

Hawkins is now in the Lexington County Detention Center. He is also charged with distribution of blank prescription forms and attempting to obtain steroids by fraud.

Morgan said the investigation was continuing and other arrests might follow.

Russ McKinney, a USC spokesman, said USC's law enforcement division participated in the arrest. McKinney said Hawkins had been planning to leave the university after this semester.

USC Think Tank

U. South Carolina think tank carries on despite indictments
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2001
Author: Christoph Schulz

(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The University of South Carolina's Institute of Public Affairs is continuing its work as usual after the indictment of three of its former and current employees almost two weeks ago.

In the indictment, the institute's former executive director and two subordinates have each been charged with one count of official misconduct for embezzlement. As the investigation into the case is conducted, the eight centers of the institute continue their work.

According to Michael Witkoski, associate director of the USC think tank, the institute has two main functions.

"One (function) is to do public policy research on topics that affect South Carolina, and this can be anything from health care, local government, environmental policy," Witkoski said. "The second thing is public service, to take that research and do some practical stuff with it."

Witkoski said the institute draws its funds from different sources. It gets the money from the university, grants and contracts with state agencies and the federal government. The money coming from grants and contracts makes the institute eighth on the list of university components that bring in outside grants.

Witkoski said the institute is divided into eight centers, each working independently on their projects but collaborating in their research whenever possible. The centers include the Center for Citizenship, the Center for Governance, the Center for Environmental Policy and the Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention Center.

The institute offers three ways for students to get involved, Witkoski said. Undergraduate students can participate in the Washington Semester Program or the South Carolina Semester Program, which are both offered by the Center for Citizenship. Both programs offer students the possibility to get a sense of how government works.

The institute also helps graduate students gain experience that helps them get into fields such as health care and governmental research, Witkoski said.

According to Fred Sheheen, director of the Center of Citizenship, the Washington Semester Program has up to 15 students each semester, and the S.C. Semester Program includes 12-20 students each spring. In order to qualify, students must either be in an honors program or have at least a 3.0 overall GPA and submit several letters of recommendation.

"Our goal is to give students a real-life experience coupled with a good academic experience," Sheheen said. "We are taking students and educating them to be good public administrators, good governmental people," he said. "Simply to become better citizens by knowing more about their government in Washington and knowing more about their government in South Carolina."

Witkoski said the opportunities also give students valuable experience.

"They get a chance to see how good they can do in that area," Witkoski said. "It gives them the experience to land a job once they get through with their education."

According to the institute's Winter 2001 newsletter, four USC students are among the 10 students who have been selected for this spring's Washington Semester Program. The participants will work directly in the offices of the S.C. congressional delegation and in the federal government.

Although the impact of the institute on USC might not be visible, it is large, according to Witkoski.

"It is one of the ways the University fulfills its public service function," he said.

(C) 2001 The Gamecock via U-WIRE

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Holy S. Definition of TL/DR, but still scrolled for 10 minutes to TU***

Shiz personal this year!***

I'm still wondering why GT/UGA is at same time as our game this year?

I don't forget much. I have some quality stuff saved from years back

You have a Coot file? lol***

Lol. I got a coot DRIVE.***

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