Auburn player arrested on drug charges
No state has a prouder college football heritage than Alabama. Regardless of which school a Dothan fan roots for, there’s no denying that college football is played at its very highest level here.
Auburn fans might well have noticed articles in local media outlets about a signee recently arrested on serious drug charges.
The cornerback from Georgia days ago signed a national letter of intent to play for the runner-up in last season’s college championship.
He was reportedly arrested late last week in Florida, just south of his hometown. A Nassau County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a Dodge Charger for speeding; inside the vehicle were the cornerback and three other men.
The deputy who pulled the car over reported that as he approached the vehicle, he noticed “a strong odor of burnt marijuana,” the county sheriff said.
The four-star prospect was sitting in the right-front passenger seat.
A search of the vehicle resulted in confiscation of a total of 202.5 grams of marijuana found in four bags in parts of the car. One bag was reportedly found under the right-front seat, as was a “small hand gun wrapped in a t-shirt,” the sheriff said.
He said none of the occupants of the car claimed to own the marijuana, so all four were charged with three felony drug charges: possession of more than 20 grams, possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
An Auburn spokesperson said Coach Gus Malzahn is “aware of the situation.”
In the coach’s 14 months at the school, only one other player has been arrested. That player also faced drug-related charges; he was immediately kicked off of the team.
As we can see, an arrest can have a drastic impact beyond the legal system. That holds true outside the sports world as it does inside it.
Anyone facing harsh legal penalties — as well as difficult challenges at work or school — because of a drug charge should speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Source: USA Today, “Auburn signee Kalvaraz Bessent arrested on drug charges,” James Crepea, Feb. 9, 2014