De'Ante Saunders Arrested For Marijuana Possession In May, Fourth Gator Popped For Pot In 2011

by Andy Hutchins on Aug 5, 2011 8:01 AM EDT in Florida Gators Police Blotter

Early-enrolled freshman cornerback De'Ante Saunders became Florida's fourth player arrested for marijuana possession in 2011 in May, the Palm Beach Post's Jason Lieser reported Thursday night. On May 25, he was served with a notice to appear in court; the Post further reported that records indicate Saunders agreed to deferred prosecution, which essentially means that counseling and good behavior can have this arrest all but expunged from his record.

And, what's more, eternal Gainesville legal eagle Huntley Johnson, Saunders' attorney, says his client has kicked the sticky icky (sorry, 1993 decided to drop by) habit...

"He's quit smoking marijuana," Johnson said. "I'm satisfied that's not going to be an issue again."

...and Florida spokesman Steve McClain texted Lieser to tell him that Will Muschamp was aware of the situation and had handled it internally. It's weird: It's almost like getting arrested for possession of marijuana is a fairly minor thing on the grand moral spectrum of Western civilization or something.

Still, five arrests for four players — Janoris Jenkins, not once but twice, Chris Martin and Kedric Johnson in separate incidents, and now Saunders — means it's time for another completely worthless inquisition, right?

Uh, no. My reaction to the Gainesville Sun's May feature on Florida's supposed marijuana problem — that there is no such thing, really — is one I stand by, and I'm not going to get worked up about adults making choices about what they put into their bodies until those adults start endangering other people by doing so.

You can take the really easy route with the jokes here, but there's a question we should be asking: Don't you think we should be wondering not whether Florida seems to have a lot of tokers (hi, 1976!) on the roster, but why these arrests are only being reported months after the fact? The cover-up would be far worse than the crime, no?

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Interesting

Two things:
A. College kids like weed..not sure why UF players can’t just enjoy it at home.
2. It is interesting that it takes months for the media to hear about these arrests/citations.

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by Marmaduke1 on Aug 5, 2011 9:07 AM EDT reply actions

All this is happening in open court

So forget cover-up. If the media is so damn interested, the media can — you know — investigate public proceedings.

And I recognize that you said “all but” expunged, so your statement isn’t inaccurate . . . but it’s probably worth pointing out that when you successfully complete a deferred prosecution agreement, the result is that the case is dismissed. It’s still a part of your criminal record, and is not sealed, and is not expunged, and is not somehow “off your record.” Lots of people confused by that. And it is confusing.

by The Persistent Fool on Aug 5, 2011 9:54 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I'm no legal expert so this may be completely wrong but..

…I think people are thinking of the deferred prosecution agreement for minors, the completion of which does include your record being wiped clean. Even then, in certain cases the offense shows up (like if the offender is trying to get a job working with children or the elderly). So technically I guess it just means the record is sealed.

In Saunders’ case then, the record should not be wiped clean unless they’ve extended it to adults, in which case I’ll be back because there’s a bank I’ve been meaning to rob.

by Landlubber on Aug 5, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s pretty technical.

Minors who complete diversion programs can petition for expunction under a certain Florida statute.

Saunders is an adult though. If he (or any adult in a similar situation) completes diversion successfully, his record will reflect that he wad charged with possession of MJ and the charges were dismissed.

He could then ask that the records be sealed or expunged, which is a separate step. Some crimes don’t qualify. Possession of MJ qualifies.

But you only get one lifetime opportunity to expunge, so needs to be used wisely.

The effect is that in many cases, a person can lawfully deny ever having been charged. But there are a number of exceptions — you listed a couple of them.

That was probably more information than anyone wants to know about this, ever. So I’ll apologize, but still hit the post button anyway . . .

by The Persistent Fool on Aug 5, 2011 11:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

No, good post man.

by Landlubber on Aug 5, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

It's good info for people to know...

Just like everyone should know and invoke their rights when it comes to dealing with law enforcement…

I’ll add that if you have a part of your record expunged or sealed, it is still available to law enforcement even if it doesn’t show up on background checks executed by employers, creditors and other members of the general public…regardless of what the age of the person was when the offense/arrest/conviction/aquittal/dismissal occurred…

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by gatorhippy on Aug 5, 2011 11:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Thanks for the info.

I would not have had any clue about that.

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by Andy Hutchins on Aug 5, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Easiest explanation is usually the correct one:

but why these arrests are only being reported months after the fact? The cover-up would be far worse than the crime, no?

Well, either because nobody cared, until the off season lulled again, and decided to go to a good stand-by, the student-athlete arrest… but one wasn’t fresh, so they looked through the records of the last 90 days to find a match, of an incoming, low key recruit who nobody had probably heard of before…

Or because of an elaborate cover up, and conspiracy between <insert nefarious ne’er-do-wells here>.

by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Aug 5, 2011 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

Agree!

by The Persistent Fool on Aug 5, 2011 10:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well, yeah.

I’m less concerned about a cover-up and more concerned that media members seem only to dredge these things up when other things lull.

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by Andy Hutchins on Aug 5, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

How hard is it to not get caught? I mean, it isn’t my cup of tea at all, but I’ve known plenty of people who indulge in it and I don’t know one of them who have gotten caught.

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by FlaGators on Aug 5, 2011 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

What this means

by swampchomp7 on Aug 5, 2011 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Like

Brantley Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Jon... John is inside right now. I tried to get an interview with him, but they said no, you can't do that he's a live Gator, he will literally rip your face off.
[to the Brantley] Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out here, Brantley!

by ECFIVESTER on Aug 5, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions