Drug Charges Against Thomas Dismissed..............

Bears' Thomas can get drug charge dismissed

Linebacker must complete mandated classes before Aug. 29


By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 12:21 a.m. CDT, May 25, 2012




Bears linebacker J.T. Thomas likely will be cleared of a misdemeanor drug possession charge before the regular season begins, provided he completes the terms of a deferred sentence.

Thomas was arrested Feb. 13 and charged with possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana after being pulled over for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Morgantown, W.Va. Thomas played in college at West Virginia.

According to Monongalia County Magistrate Court records, prosecution of Thomas' case has been delayed for six months. He paid a $165.80 fine and has to complete Morgantown Area Youth Services Project classes — typically an eight-hour obligation. A motion to dismiss the charge can be filed Aug. 29 on Thomas' behalf if he has completed the classes.

A court representative said Thomas can have the charge expunged from his record one year from the date of the offense.

Thomas expressed regret for his mistake.

"You just come out, start all over again and just work your way through it,'' he said. "You have to deal with issues that come up. You just try to stay focused on your main goal, and that's being a positive teammate and contributing the best way I can.''

Thomas seems unlikely to face league discipline, although NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday the matter is still under review. Thomas was on the field for the start of organized team activities this week.

"Everything is good to go,'' he said. "That's why I'm out here with my teammates. When you go through things like that, you just have to refocus, and I'm honed in and growing up. Now things are going smoothly.''

Thomas, a sixth-round draft pick in 2011, spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a back injury. He has a chance to make the roster after the Bears didn't draft a linebacker, although they did add veteran Geno Hayes.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23

Kind of misinterpretation of what came from this. The charges weren't dismissed. He got a deferred judgement and he'd have needed to plead guilty for that to happen. Once he complete the terms of his probation one year from that date his record is expunged of his charges but that doesn't mean his arrest record is cleared. It will still show up there unless his attorney moves to have that eradicated as well.

What's interesting is that the league is taking no action according to Aiello. Thomas has a pretty good track record as a good guy and maybe that's what's saving him. That and the fact that it happened in the offseason and didn't get much press.

I'm not buying that the league isn't going to discipline him (don't forget that first time drug offenses aren't supposed to be publicized). At a minimum he will be tested frequently, both by the league and by his probation.

Yeah I'm certain that part of his deal from the league will be to submit to more frequent testing. It's a first strike and most of the time they're willing to look the other way but if they do suspend him it won't mean much. He won't be starting and he may not even make the team.