Panthers player had 49 grams of marijuana, illegal gun when speeding, warrants show
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Shi Smith had almost 50 grams of marijuana and a gun without a permit when speeding in South Carolina in March, arrest warrants in the case obtained by The Herald and Charlotte Observer show.
Shiyun Malik “Shi” Smith, 23, was charged March 25 with felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute drug charge, as well as being charged for the gun and for speeding. He was arrested in Union County west of Rock Hill. Smith is from Union and played at the University of South Carolina.
Smith was driving over 80 miles per hour in a 55 MPH zone on S.C. 176 around 11:30 a.m. March 25, according to a traffic citation issued by the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
“I think with any pending legal matter, we’ll wait and see what happens,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said at last month’s owners meetings in Florida. “Let it all resolve and obviously the league will be involved, and we will as well. So we’ll just kind of wait and see what happens.”
Shi Smith’s drug charge is a felony
In the car, deputies found 49 grams of marijuana, according to the drug arrest warrant. Any amount over 28 grams, or an ounce, is eligible for a charge of possession with intent to distribute under South Carolina law. A conviction for the charge carries up to five years in prison, state law shows.
Deputies also found a loaded handgun in the backseat of the car, warrants state. Smith did not have a concealed carry permit for the gun, according to the warrant. A conviction on the gun charge carries up to a year in jail under South Carolina law.
When asked whether he was disappointed in what happened, Rhule said he’ll wait before passing judgment.
“I’ve seen so many different things happen in my life,” he said. “So many years as a head coach, so many years in college. I always just believe in waiting until everything is sort of on the table, knowing the facts and then talking about it.
“Obviously, I want all great things in the media for the Carolina Panthers,” he added. “But at the end of the day, I’m always here to help our players and wait to see how things turn out, see what the truth is and go from there.”
Smith was released on $6,000 bail on March 25 after his arrest. He is due in court in June for the drug and gun charges and in May for the speeding ticket, records show.
No trial date set
It remains unclear if Smith has a lawyer. Court documents show no lawyer in the case.
Prosecutors and Melanie Lawson, Union County Clerk of Court, said court officials have not received a notice of representation from any attorney on Smith’s behalf.
The case will be prosecuted by the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which handles cases in York and Union counties. Prosecutor Kevin Brackett said he is aware of the charges but has declined comment on the case because it is pending.
No trial date has been set. A Union County grand jury would have to hear the charges and indict Smith before the drug and gun cases could be set for trial.
Smith in his rookie season in 2021 caught six passes for 104 yards after he was drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round. Next season, Smith is expected to contribute on special teams and is the second year of a four-year, $3.4 million rookie deal.
Smith is the second NFL player to recently be prosecuted in South Carolina for drug charges. Bashaud Breeland, a former Clemson University star and player with the Kansas City Chiefs, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct in 2020 after an arrest at a Fort Mill area gas station in York County.