Eight people, most of whom had the unfortunate privilege of partying with Olympic great Michael Phelps, have been arrested in Richland County, SC. Seven have been charged with drug possession and one with distribution. The party where the illegal activity went down happened way back in November.
Authorities have also located and confiscated the bong that Michael Phelps put to his mouth in that infamous picture. It wasn't so hard, considering the owner was trying to sell it on eBay for $100,000. The owner, who wasn't at the party, is one of the eight people being charged. So far Phelps has dodged any legal recourse.
The sheriff maintains that he cannot turn a blind eye, after the picture of Phelps presented compelling evidence that a crime had happened in his jurisdiction.
Do you think this is a responsible use of law enforcement resources?
Mishumo
Grandstanding.
1I'm glad to see they are going after more than just Phelps. This will also send a message, if you're at a party like this, don't take pictures you dumb sh!t
2This is ridiculous. Doesn't this sheriff have a real crime to investigate?
(Although putting the bong on eBay was really stupid)
3"I'm glad to see they are going after more than just Phelps. This will also send a message, if you're at a party like this, don't take pictures you dumb sh!t"
You're glad to see people being prosecuted for using a drug at a college party?
4LOLz. I have them.
5complete over reaction on that sheriffs part.
and to the dude selling the bong on ebay....you should just spend time in jail for just that....being a complete idiot!
6I hope they also charged the guy who took the picture, for being a jerk.
7Org - Actions have consequences. They used a drug that is currently illegal, they took pictures and put them on the internet. Did they not think that they would get in trouble? Had that one person not thought it was "cool" to get a picture of Phelps taking a hit, we wouldn't be having this discussion. If they were to stupid to use discretion, then they deserve what they get.
8UnDave, a picture with a 'water pipe' is not nearly enough evidence to prove somebody used an illegal drug. The sheriff might have more evidence than that, but you don't.
9Lame.
10Yeah aren't water pipes used for tobacco too? Wink wink nudge nudge.
11The sheriff is well within his discretion to not prosecute such an unimportant offense. He is simply grandstanding for his next election, and possibly ruining the lives of several students in the process.
12People, it's not bong, it's tobacco pipe!
13What an idiot.. putting the bong up for sale on eBay. Maybe this'll teach people to use discression when doing things they really shouldn't be doing.
14"and possibly ruining the lives of several students in the process."
15Personal accountability much? They're being charged for a decision THEY made for themselves.
How is this going to ruin their lives? And let's not be coy. He was smoking pot. He admitted it, he's paying the price for it. Now the people who got him in trouble are getting what they deserve.
16Good point foxie.
17I have a hard time demanding punishment and 'personal accountability' because person broke an unjust law.
18because a person, sorry.
19Also, I doubt this sheriff is scouring his local facebook network looking for pictures of college students smoking marijuana. He did this because it was a high profile case.
20They're being charged for a decision that any person should be able to legally make. It isn't a question of personal accountability. It is society unjustly holding them accountable for a self regarding decision. But lets be frank, they're being charged for being in the same room as Michael Phelps while smoking pot. It's a joke.
If any of those students seek government employment, this will likely limit their chances of succeeding, especially in any criminal justice or political field.
21It may very well be unjust, but that doesn't mean anyone should expect to not be punished for violating it. They knew the consequences, they decided to take the risk. If their futures are ruined or damaged in any way, they have only themselves to blame.
22Trying to place blame on the sheriff is so unbelievably facepalm to me.
So, we should be able to ignore any law we don't like? That doesn't make any sense.
23Shouldshouldshouldshouldshould, but it ISN'T.
24The sheriff decided to go on a witch hunt because he's embarrassed.
Any law that doesn't make sense, yes, we should ignore, violate, and protest. It has happened throughout history, and it has led to a much better society.
25"So, we should be able to ignore any law we don't like? That doesn't make any sense."
Law enforcement and prosecutors have a wonderful thing called 'discretion'. I'm not arguing that these people didn't do something illegal, I'm simply saying it's ridiculous and transparent for the Sheriff to go after them.
26I think you have it backwards. Follow the law, but work to get it changed. That's how we get a better society.
27"It may very well be unjust, but that doesn't mean anyone should expect to not be punished for violating it. They knew the consequences, they decided to take the risk."
No one is arguing that they didn't knowingly take a risk. The problem is that the sheriff decided to target students unfairly based on the publicity of their case. Their risk of prosecution just increased exponentially by being in the same room as Michael Phelps.
28Socrates defined justice as everyone receiving the same treatment. Does that seem just to you?
"I think you have it backwards. Follow the law, but work to get it changed. That's how we get a better society."
Yeah, that's how we got past Jim Crow laws.
29Actually organic, that does seem just to me. And I'd be willing to bet that this sheriff and his department have arrested and charged plenty of poor, black, un-photographed pot smokers too.
30What WOULDN'T be fair is ignoring THIS case because it involves "promising" college students... oh, and a wildly successful athlete.
Not prosecuting a case of drug possession from November at a college party seems unjust to you? The case would have never been prosecuted with the breadth and resources that it has without Michael Phelps being involved, and to deny that is just asinine. Obviously, you don't have much experience with the criminal justice system.
31Right, and pot smoking has the same stigma that the civil rights movement did.
32UD i agree, catch someone smoking pot, selling pot, put them in jail. Go arrest people 4 months after the fact based on photos that are deemed embarassing to your city or county and thats wasting both time and energy.
33You're right, I don't have much experience. I follow the law, even 'stupid' ones. Obviously.
34Do you honestly believe these people are going to spend time in jail? A fine and a suspended sentence at most. They broke the law, and got caught. If you don't want to get into trouble, don't do something illegal. More importantly, don't take pictures of an illegal activity.
35"Also, I doubt this sheriff is scouring his local facebook network looking for pictures of college students smoking marijuana. He did this because it was a high profile case."
I agree, Michtastic.
36On another note, why is Phelps drinking water? Doesn't he spend like 12 hours in a pool? How can he be really thirsty, unless he's really mostly a fish?
37I didn't read all of the comments, but there was video evidence of Paris Hilton smoking a joint and she wasn't arrested (retroactively, at that). This is stupid. Yes, they broke the law, but this sheriff is just trying for his 15 minutes of fame.
38No, complete waste of taxpayers money. It's not crack, these kids are college students. GET OVER IT.
39This is retarded...it's just pot. I know it's illegal but come on!
40What an attention wh*re! Yeah, pot smokers and small-time sellers are SUCH a threat to society! -sarcasm- Go find some real criminals!
41i can understand why they are doing it but if you think about it, there are so many celebs that have been photographed smoking and they aren't being arrested. (think about kirsten from Twilight fame)
42Good thing there's no REAL CRIME in Richland County, SC!!!
/sarcasm.
Really? Like what the heck is arresting them supposed to do? Whoop-de-doo, you've got more people in jail. More money to waste on frivolous trials and juries!
Awesome job. *rolls eyes*
43"On another note, why is Phelps drinking water? Doesn't he spend like 12 hours in a pool? How can he be really thirsty, unless he's really mostly a fish? "
i don't think he drinks the pool water.
this whole thing got blown up way out of proportion and i agree that this sheriff is just an attention wh*re trying to make himself famous for personal gain.
44I say charge them, in the mean time keep working to make it legal. The law is the law, you play you could pay.
45I guess Phelps found out who his real friends are. . . Really, I can't believe they were stupid enough to take pictures, make them public and then try to sell the bong, er, tobacco pipe? I guess you really can't fix stupid.
46Hold up.. Phelps, the man in the picture smoking, hasn't been brought up on drug related charges, but all his buddies have been? Including someone who wasn't even at the party?
I call *bullsh*t*
47This is ridiculous.
48If thats the way its going down, then Phelps needs to be charged too. What a crock.
this is stupid. it would have been different if the cops had ran into these folks out on the street or in the middle of a deal or something but to go after them based off a pic of the golden boy hitting a tobacco pipe is just nuts. The Sheriff was just embarrassed and wanted to remind us to respect his authority.
49WHAT.
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