Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says he will charge Michael Phelps with a crime if he determines the Olympics hero smoked marijuana in Richland County.Phelps, who set a record with eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics, was photographed smoking a marijuana pipe at a November party in Columbia.The picture was published in the British newspaper News of the World. Phelps apologized Sunday, calling his behavior "inappropriate." "This case is no different than any other case," Lott said Monday. "This one might be a lot easier since we have photographs of someone using drugs and a partial confession. It's a relatively easy case once we can determine where the crime occurred." Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $570 fine, plus court costs. [continues 485 words]
Olympic great Michael Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper Sunday showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe at a house party in Columbia in November. In a statement to The Associated Press, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World. "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. "I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again." [continues 571 words]
British Tabloid Exposes Photo Of Olympic Champion Inhaling From Bong While In Columbia U.S. Olympic champion Michael Phelps apologized for his behavior after a photo of him inhaling from a marijuana pipe during a house party in Columbia surfaced Sunday. The photo, which was published by the British tabloid News of the World, was reportedly taken when Phelps visited Columbia in November, during which time he received a standing ovation from the crowd during a USC football game. One of Phelps's agents released a statement in which Phelps apologized for his actions. [continues 510 words]
Sheriff's Office Says Man, 23, Died In Deal Gone Bad Detectives are investigating the shooting death of a James Island man gunned down outside a Fort Johnson Road gathering spot late Friday in a hail of bullets that might have included an AK-47 assault rifle. The shooting was described as a drug deal gone bad, and authorities said they were alarmed by the power of the weaponry involved. As many as 15-20 shots were fired. Two men who wrecked in a bullet-holed vehicle while trying to flee the scene were questioned in the case but later released. They remain persons of interest. [continues 268 words]
If you've ever taken a class that dealt with material culture, you know that a T-shirt is much more than just a shirt. It was born in a factory somewhere, likely overseas. It was transported a distance to reach the retailer, likely a long distance. It finally arrived at the retailer and you bought it, likely because you appreciated its look or low price. So, for a politically mindful person, the decision over which shirt to buy takes into account more than just brands, sales and funny one-liners. Where was the shirt made? How much are the workers in that country paid? Was it made in a sweatshop? Was child labor involved? These are the questions you should ask about all the items you purchase, and not just the legal ones. [continues 226 words]
Chief Calls On Community To Be 'Eyes And Ears' Of Department SENECA - Even though he knows 2009 promises to throw its share of curveballs his way, Seneca Police Chief John Covington said it's always a good idea to set goals for the department. "It's always healthy to have expectations," Covington said with a smile. "Even though sometime they don't work out the way you want them to." Ready to embark on his first full year as the head of the department, Covington said those expectations include a renewed focus on fighting drug activity in the city, as well as fostering a close bond between the community and the department. [continues 872 words]
Jack Hunter got a bull's-eye calling for credible drug law reform. ("Just Say No ... More" by Jack Hunter, Dec. 17) At the very least that means re-legalizing cannabis (marijuana). The relatively safe, socially acceptable, God-given plant cannabis hasn't killed anyone in over 5,000 years of documented use, yet it is classified as a Schedule I substance along with heroin and LSD, while meth and coke are only Schedule II substances. And there's part of the problem. The prohibitionist government propaganda insisting that cannabis is so bad has the effect of creating contempt toward the warnings about highly addictive and deadly drugs. [continues 102 words]
Just Say No ... More When America declared a war on poverty in the 1960s, it was believed that more assistance by the federal government would lead to eradicating the problem. What we got instead was bigger government and an army of dependents for whom welfare became not merely a helping hand but a way of life. And today, even though the government has done little to actually help the poor and has even made things worse, many still believe the war on poverty must continue by offering even more of the welfare that helps to perpetuate it. [continues 656 words]
YORK -- Authorities say they busted a mail-order cocaine scheme Friday, the latest in a string of drug seizures in York County that have netted nearly a half-million dollars in narcotics. Friday's bust of more than $14,000 in cocaine mailed from Central America is part of $487,180 in drugs officials have confiscated within the past 10 days, said Marvin Brown of York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. In one bust, officials recovered $300,000 in cocaine. Two days later, they seized another $173,000 worth. [continues 256 words]
Many Uses For Plant Could Create Emerging Industries Within U.S., Around Globe Did you know that there is one product that can be used as a source of fuel, food, clothing, paper, medicine and other random things such as fast food containers? This source can be grown from sea level to 6,000 feet above sea level in environments that have little rain because it mainly needs sunlight to grow. As it grows it actually replenishes the nutrients in the soil, helping the land become rich again even if the soil is malnourished to begin with. [continues 337 words]
Legalizing Narcotics Could Provide More Oversight, Regulation On Substances With today's faltering economy, many people are wondering what can possibly cure these economic hard times. Besides the obvious need to cut out some of our billion dollar military budget, the United States currently spends about $40 billion on the War on Drugs, which many mayors, police commissioners and others feel has failed. At the United States Conference of Mayors held in Los Angeles, mayors of the largest cities in the U.S. said a new plan for the War on Drugs needs to be drawn up since the current plan is only prolonging the problem. [continues 370 words]
FLORENCE - A jury has convicted former Lake City Police Sgt. Shanita McKnight of drug trafficking and extortion charges after a five-day federal trial. The jury of six men and six women deliberated for about three and a half hours before handing down the verdict Tuesday evening. A male alternate juror was present during the trial but he was dismissed Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Terry L. Wooten after the 12 jurors said they were capable of deliberating. McKnight will be sentenced later. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in prison and fines ranging from $4 million to $8 million. She also faces a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine and/or 20 years in prison for the extortion charge. [continues 672 words]
Determent Program Offered To Seventh- And Fifth-Graders SHALLOTTE, N.C. -- Brunswick County school board members plan to spend $50,000 this year to expand an anti-drug education program that some studies say does not work. In addition, school board members voted to begin a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program for Brunswick County seventh-graders without having qualified educators review the curriculum. "It is supposed to be better," said Reeda Hargrove, Brunswick County Schools' director of student support services. [continues 519 words]
If I greatly exaggerated the dishonesty of a known liar, would it make sense to believe me even though I'm dishonest because my message is generally correct? Unfortunately, the AboveTheInfluence.com ads make as much sense as the previous sentence. More unfortunately, they aren't alone. In one ad, a teenager locks the door to his room and gets out a bag of weed. The story takes a weird twist when he builds a cocoon around himself and wakes up as a middle-aged man. You hear his mom's voice yell, "Marty, did you take out the garbage like your father told you?" [continues 373 words]
It gave way like a bad knee. As Amy Jones jogged off the soccer field of her final college game last year, she broke with a spartan way of life. The runs and weightlifting, the soccer drills and hard-earned rivulets of sweat. Soon her hours were filled with bottled beer, smoldering joints and morals that stretched like a rubber band in a rented downtown house where drugs were dealt. As the police rammed down the door and her face was pushed against the cool wooden planks of the living-room floor, she knew the party was over. [continues 867 words]
State's Only Public Treatment System Says 93% Of Patients Aren't Using Other Opiates When he tried to quit using OxyContin, heroin and other opiates cold turkey, Ken S. said the pain was so great he felt it in the marrow of his bones. Ken, 40, who chose not to give his last name so he could remain anonymous, said that about a year ago he landed on the doorstep of the Charleston Center of Charleston County, a drug and alcohol treatment program that runs the state's only public methadone program. [continues 905 words]
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - IF there is such a thing as a rock 'n' roll family, the Perrys of Myrtle Beach, S.C., surely qualify. With his goatee and tattoos, John Perry, 31, has the look of a Nordic metal guitarist. His wife, Laura, 30, is blond and gazes out coolly behind sunglasses, while their two young children, Gracie and Memphis, are named in homage to Elvis Presley. On a recent Saturday, the Perry family was standing in line to ride the Shake Rattle 'n' Rollercoaster at Hard Rock Park, a rock 'n' roll theme park that officially opened here last month. They were passing time in a section of the park called Born in the USA, which features a 1950s-style diner, a water ride called Slippery When Wet and a 50-foot-tall model of the Statue of Liberty holding a Zippo lighter in lieu of a torch. [continues 1357 words]
High Court Rules Seizure at Checkpoint Unconstitutional COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Supreme Court has upheld the suppression of drug evidence found during a Greenville County roadblock after ruling the checkpoint was unconstitutional, violating the protection against unreasonable search and seizure. A lawyer for the defendant in the case said the ruling is the first in the state since U.S. Supreme Court decisions on roadblocks and could limit the discretion of law enforcement in making future checkpoints. But Chief Justice Jean Toal, dissenting, argued that she saw nothing wrong with the roadblock and would reverse the ruling of Circuit Judge D. Garrison Hill. [continues 275 words]
Benson Says 'A Lot' Of Those Who Voted Him Out Were Once Arrested CHESTER -- Chester County Sheriff Robby Benson heard Wednesday why voters overwhelmingly chose to replace him. A day after Fort Lawn Police Chief Richard Smith defeated the two-term incumbent in the Democratic primary, the buzz around town was that Benson hadn't done enough to control the county's drug problem. But the man who will be sheriff until January has a few theories about why he lost. [continues 607 words]
A new report released by the S.C. Department of Public Safety says drug arrests are on the rise - a likely indicator that drug use also is increasing. The report released Monday says arrests for drugs and drug paraphernalia increased 47 percent from 1996 to 2006. Drug-related emergency room visits increased 67 percent over the same period. Report author Rob McManus says drug arrests are the best available measure of drug use, but can't be used as the only indicator. [continues 54 words]
Inside South Carolina
