A South Carolina sheriff said yesterday that he didn't have enough physical evidence to charge 14-time gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps with smoking marijuana from a pipe after a photo of the Olympian surfaced in a British newspaper last month.
"We had a photo and him saying he was sorry for inappropriate behavior. He never said, '"I smoked marijuana,'" the sheriff said.
When do police not charge a suspect because he didn't admit to the crime? If that's all that had to be done, then future law breakers I hope you're taking notes. You can be in the picture doing the crime, then apologize for the behavior, but as long as you don't admit to the deed, you'll get off scott free!
If it were you or me in the photo and police got their hands on it, we'd be charged.
Even though the sheriff said Phelps is obligated to "obey the laws of our state," I can't help but believe the swimmer was given special treatment because of his celebrity status.
While he won't be charged, Phelps was suspended from competition for three months from USA Swimming and Kellogg Co. dropped him as a sponsor.
This was Phelps' second strike and he's gotten off easy both times. In 2004, he was arrested for drunk driving and pleaded guilty, but didn't do any time. I hope he's learned his lesson because on the third strike, the police, sheriff or judge may not be as lenient.
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