Monday, July 22, 2013

Charges dropped against North Carolina's PJ Hairston


North Carolina guard P.J. Hairston has had all of his charges dismissed in the case of a June traffic stop. (Photo: Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports)


All charges against North Carolina leading scorer P.J. Hairston stemming from his June 5 arrest have been dismissed, a Durham County court clerk said Monday.


After being stopped at a license checkpoint, Hairston, 20, had been arrested on charges of possessing marijuana and driving without a license. The charges were dismissed July 19, the clerk said, and Hairston complied with the conditions of the court, which included completing of a drug assessment and providing his current driver's license.


RELATED: Coach warns of 'serious consequences'

USA TODAY Sports first reported that the 2013 GMC Yukon that Hairston was driving at the time was rented by Durham resident Haydn "Fats" Thomas," a 39-year-old convicted felon and party promoter who has ties to numerous college athletes in the state of North Carolina. The vehicle was rented from June 2 to June 5 for $1,261.64, according to the rental receipt.


USA TODAY Sports also first reported that Hairston was cited for speeding May 13 while driving a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS that was rented by Catinia Farrington, a woman who shares the same home address as Thomas.


PREVIOUSLY: Athletic director issues statement

In a statement issued last week, North Carolina coach Roy Williams said that Hairston has made "serious mistakes and there will be serious consequences as a result." Williams added that the possibility of suspension had been discusses and that he would wait until the legal process was completed before making a ruling.


PREVIOUSLY: Campus parking tickets tied to 'Fats' Thomas

After being stopped June 5, a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were found outside the vehicle and seized during the traffic stop. Neither Hairston nor the two other passengers in the vehicle - Miykael Faulcon, 20, and Carlos Sanford, 23, both of Durham - faced charges related to the gun.


Thomas told USA TODAY Sports that he had no relationship with Hairston and that he rented the vehicle for himself before loaning it to Faulcon so he could go to the store. Thomas said that Faulcon later told him that Faulcon and Hairston were planning to visit Atlanta that weekend. Faulcon and Hairston are close friends, Faulcon's mother, Trudy Ransom, said.


Between February and May, four Hertz rental vehicles tied to Thomas received a total of nine unpaid parking citations on North Carolina's campus. The four vehicles - a 2012 GMC Yukon, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2013 Mercedes Benz 350 and the Camaro - were rented by Thomas or Farrington from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.


"Other issues have been written about recently that are disturbing and bother me deeply," Williams said in his statement. "Our basketball program is based on great ideals and these issues are embarrassing. These are not common in my 10 years as head coach at UNC and they will all be dealt with harshly and appropriately at the correct time to ensure that our program will not be compromised."


Thomas has said in multiple phone interviews that he has yet to be contacted by the NCAA or by North Carolina.


Eric Prisbell, a national college football reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @EricPrisbell.


Rachel Axon, a sports projects reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @RachelAxon.


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