Former Liberty County High School running back Shadrach Thornton has been indefinitely suspended from the North Carolina State University football team amid allegations of marijuana use and a sexual battery charge.
According to reports posted on sportsillustrated.cnn.com and newsobserver.com, police went to the sophomore’s apartment around Dec. 4 with a search warrant as part of an investigation into a sexual-battery charge in which Thornton was named as a possible suspect.
During the search, police found what they suspect is marijuana and paraphernalia in the common areas of the apartment Thornton shares with redshirt freshman J.J. Jones. As the search continued, police said they found .3 grams of marijuana and three parts of marijuana cigarettes in Thornton’s room. Thornton and Jones were charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession and drug-paraphernalia possession. So far, no charges have been filed in the battery case, which was reported to university police Dec. 2, according to the news accounts of the incident.
In a statement released Dec. 5, the school said coach Dave Doeren has indefinitely suspended Thornton. Jones earlier had informed the coaching staff that he would transfer.
According to the report, Thornton is receiving counseling as part of a deal with the court to defer prosecution for an offseason charge of misdemeanor assault on a female. Doeren suspended Thornton for the season opener due to that June arrest, though Thornton gradually earned back a leading role and twice ran for 100 yards, including 173 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State.
For the second year in a row, Thornton was the Wolfpack’s’ leading rusher. He rushed for 768 yards this season.