5 Furman University Football Players Face Marijuana Dealing Charges

Furman University said five football players have either been suspended or dismissed after being arrested following an undercover drug investigation.  A sixth student, who is not on the football team, was also ticketed. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and Furman police said that the investigation followed a complaint about a Furman student selling narcotics. Deputies said during the investigation, officers made several marijuana purchases that led to four search warrants on campus and at the Sleep Inn hotel in Travelers Inn.

The students were arrested Thursday night. Furman head football coach Bruce Fowler said that defensive end Aaron Riley, cornerback Jordan Grant Griffin and linebacker Tim Lawrence have been dismissed from the program.  Linebacker Sterling Johnson and safety Nathan Wade have been suspended indefinitely. Student status for the six students will be determined by the university. Riley, 20, of Jacksonville, Fla., is charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribution of marijuana within a half mile of a school. He was also ticketed for possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of marijuana.

Griffin, 20, of Fairburn, Ga., is charged with distribution of marijuana within a half mile of a school, distribution of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.  He was also ticketed for possession of marijuana. Lawrence, 20, of Ellenwood, Ga., is charged with three counts of distribution of marijuana within a half mile of a school,  conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute hash,  possession with intent to distribute marijuana,  two counts of distribution of marijuana and distribution of a manufactured drug other than crack cocaine near a school.

Johnson, 22, was charged with interfering with police. Wade, 21, of Greenville, was given a ticket for simple possession of marijuana. James Lancaster Bridgeman, 20, was ticketed for public disorderly conduct. Bridgeman was the only person arrested who was not on the Furman football team. Coach Fowler said, “Unfortunately these young men put themselves in a situation where they violated team rules and the trust placed in them by their coaches, teammates, classmates and entire university community, and now they face the consequences of their actions. As head football coach, I sincerely regret this and the impact it has on our program and our community.”

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