Pot, license charges against UNC's Hairston dismissed

The district attorney's office on Friday dismissed all charges against University of North Carolina guard P.J. Hairston. 

Hairston and two others were arrested at a traffic checkpoint June 5 when police found marijuana in their vehicle. Hairston was also charged with driving without a license.

The marijuana totaled 43.2 grams, above the legal cutoff of 42 grams for a felony in North Carolina, but it was split into two bags. One bag contained 41.1 grams while the second contained 2.1 grams.

Hairston, Miykael Faulcon, a basketball player at Elizabeth City State University, and 23-year-old Carlos Sanford were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges. 

Charges remain against Faulcon and Sanford. They are due in court Aug. 6.

According to court records, Hairston obtained and completed a drug assessment, and the state decided not to proceed based on those actions.

He was also able to provide his current driver's license.

“Mr. Hairston’s case was treated like any other case,” said Durham County District Attorney Leon Stanback.

WRAL-TV contacted Hairston Monday but he said he had no comment on the situation.

The vehicle Hairston was driving was a rental, a silver GMC Yukon paid for by a Durham man who has been linked to Hairston's teammate Leslie McDonald. That connection, to Haydn "Fats" Thomas, has raised questions about whether Hairston's use of the car qualifies as impermissible benefits under NCAA eligibility standards.

Thomas claims he let Faulcon borrow the car, and he did not know Hairston would be driving.

Hairston faces another traffic violation, for speeding in another rented car, that one paid for by Thomas' wife, Catinia Farrington. 

In a statement last Monday, UNC head basketball coach Roy Williams said he was aware of Hairston's legal troubles and had talked to him about his actions.

"P.J. and I have had several discussions already, and he knows he has made serious mistakes and there will be serious consequences as a result," Williams said.

"Our basketball program is based on great ideals, and these issues are embarrassing," Williams said.