Shadrach Thornton Under Investigation For Sexual Assault; Is Charged With Marijuana Possession

Some people never learn, and apparently Shadrach Thornton is one of them. After running afoul of the law last spring and being suspended from the NC State football team for a time because of it, Thornton is once again the subject of an assault investigation and has been charged with possession of marijuana according to WRAL.

Detectives said they went to Thornton’s apartment Wednesday to follow up on a sexual battery case that was reported Monday to the NCSU Police Department. Detectives knocked on Thornton’s door at College Inn apartments, at 2717 Western Blvd., in Raleigh, and smelled marijuana, according to the warrant.

Marchez Coates, also an NC State football player, answered the door and gave the two detectives permission to enter the apartment where they found “several marijuana stems and a partial marijuana cigarette lying on the kitchen table,” the warrant stated.

Thornton has not been charged in the sexual battery investigation but does face misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

While it is far too soon to presume guilt or innocence regarding the sexual assault investigation, it is somewhat telling that Thornton would have illegal drugs in his room. While many feel that marijuana should be legalized and that it is not harmful, it is nonetheless illegal and Thornton must surely have known he was just off being on thin ice as far as head coach Dave Doeren and NC State football is concerned.  It would not be at all surprising if this latest incident costs him his scholarship and place on the team, given that this is the second time he has been criminally charged in the same year.

 

Dave Doeren NCS Football

48 Responses to Shadrach Thornton Under Investigation For Sexual Assault; Is Charged With Marijuana Possession

  1. 13OT 12/05/2013 at 10:12 PM #

    Shadrach,
    Please Pack,
    And away you go!

  2. Adventuroo 12/05/2013 at 10:33 PM #

    I have read some of the comments on the N&O and WRAL…

    Personally, I am really irritated about it….

    BUT, the barrage of light blue stones is actually funny. PJ was, I think, suspended….and then re-instated to practice and is like a “black sheep” or injured player. Coach Williams, very candidly, said a few weeks ago….that he did NOT have any idea when the NCAA would rule much less what they might hand down.

    There is also an open EEOC investigation that is ONGOING and they have had all their cutesy open forums. I love that approach…..talk and talk and do nothing. Chancellor Folt has NOT opened her mouth…..and the campus cops are under investigation….

    As to JW, WHO KNOWS…..the TPD botched it. He may be as innocent as the (fill in the blank) or he may be as guilty as OJ. The state attorney said that there was not sufficient evidence…..and that it was difficult to reconstruct…

    I certainly hope it was just a little triangle gone bad….and the victim was obviously sexually active. SO, he gets a pass from me….but not a vote for the Moral Athlete of the Year.

    SO, we will just have to weather this little storm and it will, I hope, blow over.

  3. tjfoose1 12/06/2013 at 12:19 AM #

    Boot ’em.

    I’m Sheridan type old school anyway, but in this case, it doesn’t matter. This team, this program, this coach are in no position to absorb this regardless of circumstances. Not at this critical juncture. The players are looking at you, coach. What are you about?

    I’d let him keep his scholly, assuming certain conditions are met, but he’s off the team. Revisit it in a year with no promises.

    Stay or transfer, assist and support him in every way you can.

    If it turns out there is a factual, substantial assault at the bottom of this, all bets are off.

  4. JohnGalt78 12/06/2013 at 4:52 AM #

    As I recall, there was an NandO piece about how Shad had worked hard after the first incident to make amends to everyone involved and affected including his school, teammates and the coaches…..and I guess us fans by default. It was a flattering article and it sold me on Shad and how the coaches handled it all. They stepped up and made him basically 12 step back from the exit door.

    But now that has come back to bite them in the ass….and the alumni too. he had his chance. Again I say….get the facts and move quickly. I don’t see how he stays on the team under any clarification of the facts. Maybe, per above, he stays in school…..online.

    Let’s do right by NCSU here. This is our State.

  5. Gene 12/06/2013 at 7:35 AM #

    “FYI, sexual battery can be a myriad of things. Sexual battery can be as simple as pinching a lady on the behind. It could be a lot worse.”

    I don’t think the cops are going to be knocking on your door because a guy grabbed a girl’s butt once.

    If that was the standard of law enforcement, the number of guys with criminal records for sexual assault would be mind blowing.

    I hope Shad’s off the team for good.

    He had his second chance and blew it.

  6. Pack Mentality 12/06/2013 at 8:34 AM #

    “As I recall, there was an NandO piece about how Shad had worked hard after the first incident to make amends to everyone involved and affected including his school, teammates and the coaches…..and I guess us fans by default.”

    What about the woman that he assaulted?

  7. Big Dog 12/06/2013 at 9:08 AM #

    Really sad to hear this. I too remember the article and the effort by Thornton to get back into rotation. He appeared to be a model of the second chance we all deserve.

    Part of the process when a new coach comes into a program is to remove the players that do not fit or buy into the new system and administration. Some do it voluntarily.

  8. HPWolf 12/06/2013 at 10:32 AM #

    Word has it UNC has offered Shad a full ride scholarship, humanitarian award and his degree has been printed. Team pictures with Sweet Carolines to follow.

  9. packplantpath 12/06/2013 at 10:44 AM #

    “I don’t think the cops are going to be knocking on your door because a guy grabbed a girl’s butt once.”

    I’m betting they will if she files a report/complaint.

  10. Mike 12/06/2013 at 10:48 AM #

    My point about grabbing a girl’s butt was simply to say we dont know the facts. My point should have been “it could be a lot worse.”

    Having said that, in my other post, I was clear it is time for him to go. Athletics are a privilege and I am all for 2nd chances. He had his 2nd chance and now it is time to go.

  11. packplantpath 12/06/2013 at 11:17 AM #

    Oh, I’m with you there Mike. I have no problem with saying he is off the team. I do like the idea of saying we will keep him on scholarship if he stays on track to graduate (but willing to bet he wouldn’t take the offer).

  12. Wulfpack 12/06/2013 at 11:36 AM #

    Reading the article in the N&O, he didn’t do a very good job of hiding the pot. He’s done here.

  13. JohnGalt78 12/06/2013 at 12:12 PM #

    PackMentailty, I was of course speaking about Shad’s side of the incident and how our coaches, school and fan base handled it. I don’t have a clue with the woman thinks about any of it. Do you?

  14. maverick_ncsu 12/06/2013 at 12:26 PM #

    I wanted to quickly say thank you to Alpha and most of the posters here who are wanting this situation handled quickly and firmly. I know that facts need to be gathered and a lot of people think pot should be legalized. But after watching the light blue down the road for the past few years in particular, I’m ready to stand behind a coach and university that doesn’t give in for the sake of winning football games and I’m glad to know that many of my Wolfpack brethren feel the same way. Makes me proud of the blood, sweat and tears (mostly self-induced) I spilled getting my degree at this fine university.

  15. Pack Mentality 12/06/2013 at 12:47 PM #

    “PackMentailty, I was of course speaking about Shad’s side of the incident and how our coaches, school and fan base handled it. I don’t have a clue with the woman thinks about any of it. Do you?”

    No, I have no clue. And I was not intending to single you out on your comment, but was actually saying what I have been thinking for a while. I remember reading the N&O article that you are referring to. And the entire time I do not recall anyone stating that men should not assault women. It was all about how he let the team down, etc. I feel that the team was the wrong thing to focus on with nothing being said about the recipient of his actions, especially now that there is supposedly another victim.

  16. lawful 12/06/2013 at 12:48 PM #

    Beat it, kid. We can find 100 of you.

  17. JohnGalt78 12/06/2013 at 2:07 PM #

    People should not assault people. That’s kind of a given and we have laws to propect people, seek and obtain justice, punish perps and compensate victims. This was/is a story about a football player and it has our attention here because it was one of our players. The first matter was (is being) dealt with legally and DD dealt with it on his end with careful consideration and due haste. The player seemed to take the proper actions and present a remorseful attitude. NOW, he is in a similar situation. Agreeing with lawful above, Shad must go regardless of any legal results. There is no place at NC State for someone who, assuming the first incident was a poor judgement mistake, can’t learn from his mistakes. WE ARE PACK. He has harmed the PACK. He must go. Best wishes for the victim. There are outlets for her to seek support.

  18. tjfoose1 12/06/2013 at 2:27 PM #

    “I don’t think the cops are going to be knocking on your door because a guy grabbed a girl’s butt once.”

    Sure they would, especially if the suspect is of any notoriety.

    Just a few years back a D-list country rap type performer, out on the town after a concert, was arrested in Raleigh when a female reported he grabbed her ass at downtown bar.

    His arrest for sexual assault made national news.

    I’m hazy on the details. Maybe some of you remember better?

  19. tjfoose1 12/06/2013 at 2:42 PM #

    ^ Uncle Kracker.

    A little worse than an ass grab, but not that much.

    http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1872722/

    Even the prosecutor admitted it wasn’t exactly intentional.

  20. wolffpride 12/06/2013 at 3:13 PM #

    Sorry to hear this news about Shad. He should be kicked off the team (please don’t turn this into a Hairston thing DD). I honestly never thought he was that great of a player. Undersized and not lightning fast. In my book you need bruisers or speedsters at tailback. Dayes will fill in nicely once he learns how to take a hit (especially at 213 lbs). Mercer sounds like a solid speed back. Jaylen Samuels coming in could be our bruiser. Sutton and Nichols could be speedster sleepers. From a football standpoint I am not worried. I do hope Shad finds his way as a respectable adult and college grad.

  21. packalum44 12/06/2013 at 9:31 PM #

    This shouldn’t be a big deal but our entire fandom feels obligated to continue onwards with our misguided sports paradigm: if you have to suck, at least have an excuse. Duke used to have higher academic standards. NC State has…..Morality. Righteousness. Holier than thou syndrome. Plus we are still over-correcting from the 80’s. We are a sensitive bunch after all.

    Some of you older curmudgeons needs to relax. Go watch UVA football and rack your brain for the times circa 1970 when you were young and only took blue pills at Led Zeplin shows…as opposed to pleasing the wife.

    We have to draw a line between pot and systemic cheating which likely continues at UNC in some form. We box ourselves in a corner when we start polarizing these types of issues.

    The young man wasn’t charged with sexual assault which is the painfully more obvious allegation here. He paid his dues to the earlier incident in the summer. Logic and common sense hopefully will prevail. Emotionally biased knee-jerk reactions will not help Yow’s cause…to build a top 25 program.

  22. packalum44 12/06/2013 at 9:35 PM #

    To be clear, Shadrach is easily our best tailback but to assert he would play in one of the better SEC programs is laughable. Even Andre Brown would have had a hard time getting reps at South Carolina, UGA, UF, LSU, Alabama.

  23. turfpack 12/06/2013 at 9:54 PM #

    Sometimes coach you just have to let player go…..not for him….but for the team. Chances are like cheese after awhile they all start to stink.(got that from my old HS coach)

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