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Petit larceny charge dropped against 4-star South Carolina signee
The petit larceny charge against South Carolina signee Shameik Blackshear was dropped Tuesday morning after the alleged victim and a witness in the case decided not to testify. Additionally, the alleged victim requested to have Blackshear’s charge dropped, prosecutor Ben Shelton said in Bluffton (S.C.) Municipal Court.
According to the Island Packet, Shelton said the misdemeanor charge against Blackshear was not severe enough to force the alleged victim to testify.
Blackshear, a four-star defensive end, was accused of stealing a purse and safe from a house on Feb. 7. The total value of the stolen items was $1,390, according to the incident report.
Blackshear, who told police he was never at the house, was arrested at his high school on Feb. 13 and charged less than a week after signing with the Gamecocks on National Signing Day. Blackshear’s attorney, Thomas C. Taylor, said that there was a lack of physical evidence and that the witnesses’ statements changed. He also was critical of Bluffton police for the manner in which Blackshear was arrested.
“They chose to drag him out of the school in handcuffs in front of his friends and classmates, when he would have been glad to come down and meet police,” Taylor said according to Bluffton Today. “It was unconscionable. Shameik is a fine young man with a great family who has done a lot to make Bluffton proud.”
Blackshear is now set to arrive at South Carolina on May 30, Taylor said, and the arrest will be expunged from his record.
“From what we understand, he was innocent all the way,” head coach Steve Spurrier said, per The State. “Unless something comes up differently. We had heard that they would drop the charges. As far as I know, he is clear to come with the rest of the team. He was falsely accused.”
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Blackshear, who was rated as the fifth-best player from South Carolina in the 2015 class, tore his ACL in the second game of his senior season. Taylor said his knee will be tested by South Carolina’s team doctors when he arrives on campus.
For more South Carolina news, visit GamecockCentral.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
