Larceny charge dropped against USC football signee Shameik Blackshear (+ video)

South Carolina football signee Shameik Blackshear will not be prosecuted for a petit larceny charge, town attorney Ben Shelton told municipal Judge Clifford Bush on Tuesday morning.

Shelton told Bush the victim has requested Blackshear’s petit larceny charge be dropped.

A witness also declined to testify, and the town decided the charge wasn’t severe enough to warrant compelling the witness to, Shelton said.

Blackshear’s attorney asked Bush for the charge to be dismissed and for an order of expungement.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Blackshear, a 4-star defensive end at Bluffton High School, is scheduled to enroll at USC in early June with several other freshmen recruits.

“From what we understand, he was innocent all the way,” Spurrier said. “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.”

Blackshear was charged Feb. 13 after allegedly taking a purse and safe from a Mill Creek home in Bluffton.

Three witnesses told police that on Feb. 7 they watched Blackshear take the items, valued at $1,390, and leave “without saying a word,” according to a Bluffton Police Department report. Blackshear told police he was never at the house, the report said.

Blackshear, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior, was a top recruit but struggled with injuries during his final two high school seasons. He tore the ACL in his left knee during the second game of 2014.

The State reporter Josh Kendall contributed to this story.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Larceny charge dropped against USC football signee Shameik Blackshear (+ video)."