Clemson football defensive lineman arrested on marijuana charge
A Clemson football player is facing a criminal misdemeanor charge for marijuana/hash possession ahead of the 2024 season after being arrested on Sunday.
According to publicly available Pickens County court records, Tigers defensive end Caden Story was arrested June 21 on a charge of possessing 28 grams (1 oz.) or less of marijuana or 10 grams or less of hash, another cannabis product.
Story’s case – which was formally filed in court on Tuesday – is listed as criminal in the Pickens County online database and is denoted as a “first offense.” He currently owes $615 in fines/costs stemming from his Sunday arrest, according to records.
In the state of South Carolina, if a person is found guilty of possession of 28 grams or less of marijuana or 10 grams or less of hash, they can be imprisoned up to 30 days or fined between $100 and $200, according to the SC Code of Laws.
Reached by The State, a team spokesman on Tuesday deferred comment on Story’s arrest to coach Dabo Swinney, who will be available to the media on Thursday at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte.
Story’s arrest was first reported on by The Greenville News.
Under Clemson’s student-athlete handbook, Story’s arrest does not trigger an immediate suspension from athletic activity because he was not arrested for/criminally charged for one of the following: any felony offense; sports wagering, gambling, game fixing; illegal possession of a weapon; or criminal sexual conduct.
Story, though, will be subject to drug testing under the guidelines of the Clemson athletic department’s use/misuse program and internal program discipline.
According to online court records, Story’s first court date will be in a “criminal/traffic court” hearing on Sept. 24 in the town of Central, South Carolina’s municipal court.
Story, 20, is a redshirt sophomore entering his third year with the Tigers. He joined Clemson as a four-star 2022 defensive line recruit out of Alabama and has appeared in 11 career games across his first two seasons.
Last year, as a redshirt freshman, Story appeared in 10 out of 13 games and was credited with two tackles across 59 defensive snaps. He switched positions from defensive tackle to defensive end over the offseason and is expected to play in a backup role in 2024.
Story’s arrest marks the third publicly known arrest of a Clemson football player on a criminal charge this calendar year.
Leading into 2024 spring practice, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart was arrested Feb. 6 on a felony weapons charge and a traffic charge, and wide receiver Noble Johnson was arrested Feb. 19 and charged with misdemeanor reckless driving after his involvement in a car accident that sent all three individuals involved to the hospital.
Capehart (whose arrest triggered an automatic suspension under Clemson’s guidelines) had his charges dropped later that month. Johnson’s case (whose case did not trigger an automatic suspension) remains ongoing.
