Cop: No Pot Charge For Phelps After Photo

S.C. Sheriff Says He Won't Charge Swimmer After Picture Showing Olympian Smoking From Pipe

(AP)  A South Carolina sheriff said Monday he was not going to charge swimmer Michael Phelps after a photo of the 14-time gold medalist showed him smoking from a marijuana pipe.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference that he didn't have enough physical evidence to charge the swimmer, but he defended his investigation.

"Michael Phelps is truly an American hero ... but even with his star status, he is still obligated to obey the laws of our state," Lott said.

Phelps released a statement after the sheriff's decision.

"I'm glad this matter is put to rest. But there are also some important lessons that I've learned," Phelps said in the statement. "For me, it's all about recognizing that I used bad judgment and it's a mistake I won't make again. For young people especially — be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about. I really appreciate the support my family and fans have shown me and now. I will move forward and dive back into the pool, having put this whole thing behind me."

The photo showed Phelps smoking from a marijuana pipe at a party in November when he visited the University of South Carolina. Lott said he seized the marijuana pipe, known as a bong, that was in the photo but couldn't prove Phelps had smoked from it.

"We had a photo and him saying he was sorry for inappropriate behavior. He never said, 'I smoked marijuana.' We didn't have physical evidence," Lott said.

USA Swimming suspended Phelps for three months in the wake of the photo, and Kellogg Co. said it would not renew its endorsement deal with him.

The photo surfaced in a British newspaper, News of the World, on Feb. 1. The swimmer, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games, did not dispute its authenticity.

News of the World said the picture was taken during a party while Phelps was visiting the university. During that trip, he attended one of the school's football games and received a big ovation when introduced to the crowd.

The sheriff's office said eight people were arrested during the investigation. Seven have been charged with simple possession of marijuana, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $575 fine. Another person was arrested for driving under suspension.

The sheriff's office wouldn't identify those charged but an attorney for three of them said the cases should be handled just like any other marijuana possession charge. Attorney Dick Harpootlian said he expects his clients to either have the charge dismissed or for them to get a conditional discharge, which allows an offender to avoid punishment as long as they comply with certain conditions for six months and stay out of trouble.

The party occurred nearly three months after the Olympics while Phelps was taking a break from training, and his actions should have no impact on the eight golds he won at Beijing. He has never tested positive for banned substances.

This isn't the first embarrassing episode for Phelps after an Olympic triumph. In 2004, a few months removed from winning six gold and two bronze medals in Athens, the swimmer was arrested on a drunken driving charge at age 19. He pleaded guilty and apologized for the mistake.

[indamiddle]

all this over pot. well, it will be legal sometime, and i hope i am alive to smoke a legal joint. perhaps a drunk driver will pick off independentl. would make the world a wee bit more tolerable

Posted by HonestAbe8 at 06:54 PM : Feb 17, 2009
+ report abuse

***********

i disagree with you and i think its justified if i call you a ''selfish moron''..not a liberal BUT a self-centered, selfish moRON

[indamiddle]

vcking morton downey jr. wannabe calls everyone who disagrees with him/her a "liberal"....insightful analysis, gash

Posted by HonestAbe8 at 09:08 PM : Feb 17, 2009
+ report abuse

*******

come on you do the same thing....and you are not that decent with your name calling.

[honestabe8]

fvcking morton downey jr. wannabe calls everyone who disagrees with him/her a "liberal"....insightful analysis, gash

[honestabe8]

all this over pot. well, it will be legal sometime, and i hope i am alive to smoke a legal joint. perhaps a drunk driver will pick off independentl. would make the world a wee bit more tolerable

[andie52]

crzmeat1

[crzmeat1]

ANDIE52..WELLI HOPE YOU DIE A SLOW PAINFULL DEATH WITH PUSS RUNNING FROM YOUR MOUTH AND STRANGERS GATHER JUST TO LAUGH AT THE SELF RIGHTOUS DIM WIT THAT IS SOMUCH SMARTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE THE SHE HAD TO TEAM UP WITH THE BLOG TROLL TOMAKE FUN OF MY SPELLING OH EXCUSE ME MY SYNTAX YOU DESPERATE CREATURE

[andie52]

crzmeat1 I''m going to take your post with a grian of salt now that I know what you''re all about.
I really do hope the best for you.

[crzmeat1]

ANDIE...a.k.a. COLD WET MEAN WELL i FEEL SO MUCH BETTER IT WAS MY SYNTAX NOT MY SPELLING..WAS YOU BORN HOPELESSLY IGNORANT OR DID YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY AND BAM I''M THE MOST SELF RIGHTIOUS SMART PERSON IN THE WORLD AND ALL ELSE SHOULD BOW DOWN IN FRONT OF ME. i''M DONE IF YOU ARGUE WITH ANAL FOLKS YOU NEED TO USE THE TOILET SAVE YOUR IGNORANCE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AT HAND FOR SOMEONE ELSE BUT IF THAT DON''T WORK MAKE FUN OF THERE SYNTAX...YOU ARE 1 OF THE MOST STUPID TROLLS ON THE BLOG.

[displeased]

I do have to say Phelps looks alittle stoned in this picture, he has the squinty looking eyes.
Posted by jamster31

Some people are just naturally stoned...

[jamster31]

I do have to say Phelps looks alittle stoned in this picture, he has the squinty looking eyes.

[jamster31]

The sherriff must have read the angry post''s. Nah!

[harbinger09]

Good for Phelps--too bad such leniency was not awarded that Olympic gold medalist who admitted to drugging decades later, they stripped her of all of her medals (even though her admission was voluntary) and demanded she make restitution....

[andie52]

crzmeat1

Honestly I''m having a problem deciphering your post.
I don%u2019t give a fig about spelling errors;it%u2019s the syntax of your posts that I%u2019m having issues with.

[otiswestfall]

I hate to see a famous guy''s livelihood go to pot like that.

[crzmeat1]

andie..I don''t smoke pot to cheap but see no harm in it. I beleive if were honest you and harbinger had a great laugh due to my spelling errors and pushed as much insults as you could I''m a yankee dolt we never forget.

[honestabe8]

a friend was growing some for herself in a house she owned. great smell.

[andie52]

crzmeat1

Nicotine is the primary addictive agent in cigarettes. And tobacco companies kept that nicotine ratio high for years. Once a smoker is hooked on tobacco all that they need to do is keep smoking more to satisfy the cravings so even if the nicotine content Is reduced it%u2019s still win-win for the tobacco companies.
I don%u2019t know you and I%u2019m not judging you because you smoke pot but at least I try to post in a civil manner without name calling, something you haven%u2019t done as far as I can see.

[honestabe8]

slim: i agree about the incorrect information. and, as andie is so against ganja, she likely has never had it, so she is speaking of something she knows little about. that''s allright, the ONDCP needs someone to bamboozle.

[crzmeat1]

andie...the tobacco co. got no one addicted they did that on their own enjoyed refused to quit why is that so hard for you to handle peaple are accountable, you knowit would be tough on you to quit driving but my air would be a lot cleaner and society as a whole would better off, can I have your car keys NO oh that''s right it would inconveince you, but your OK and I''m a drain to society because you said so and you don''t have to do anything...do you realize how sick folks are of your logic only a moron would say do as I say not as I do........

[slim1h2o]

Abe;

Having a popular discourse on the subject is fine, but when the other party is using faulty info, well, I have to point that out.......

andie, I believe I read your posts correctly. Maybe you meant something else, but it didn''t come accross as you said it did.