MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Former Indiana Pacers guard Shawne Williams became the latest member of our Jocks Behind Bars column this week when he was busted by Memphis police after a loaded gun and some pot was found in the car he was driving.
Police originally pulled the car over when they noticed Williams wasn’t buckled up and after checking the former University of Memphis player and his college teammate Kareem Cooper out, they charged Williams with driving on a suspended license.
Police then searched the vehicle and according to the reports, found marijuana and a gun on Cooper.
Since being selected in the first-round by the Pacers in 2006, the troubled player has left a trail that includes past arrests and off the court issues.
One of those previous arrests were also related to marijuana possession. Earlier this year, the player was indicted on four counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture/deliver/sell and four counts of conspiracy to manufacture/deliver/sell a controlled substance. The controlled substance was a codeine-based syrup. (the mugshot from that arrest is seen here above).
After a few seasons in Indiana, the Pacers had seen enough and traded him to the Dallas Mavericks who appear to have given up on the player as well. After the Mavs sent Williams home to Memphis, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said his team was hoping to work out some issues with the player but after this latest incident, we may have seen the last of Williams in Dallas and possibly the NBA.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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