As first reported here earlier today, Lewis Jackson was arrested on Easter Sunday after being stopped by police in Decatur, Illinois.According to the Lafayette Journal and Courier:
Jackson faces four charges, including possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, underage possession of alcohol and underage consumption.
Yikes. That sounds really bad, but as we often see, it'll probably just wind up being a probation situation. However, one could argue that some coaches would boot him for this kind of terrible decision-making. Naturally, we like LewJack and would love to give him another chance, provided he shows some kind of remorse and strives to improve himself. Because, much as we make light of just about everything, driving an automobile while impaired by drugs or alcohol -- especially when you're underage -- is really kind of inexcusable.
I think my instinct to give him a break is because he's young and we've all done dumb things when we were young and thought we were invincible. Let's hope this scares some sense into him. If not, and he gets in any more trouble, adios.
16 comments:
None of the charges are driving related. Did he get pulled over in a car? Or while walking back from a party or something?
I agree that driving under the influence is inexcusable... but i'm just trying to figure the whole story out.
It was a traffic stop, according to the J&C but that's a good point about the driving related charges.
I would think they will be forthcoming. Unless he was under the drunk driving limit in Illinois... but I know in a lot of states having ANY percentage of alcohol in your blood when you're under 21 is a driving offense.
Developing story.
This sucks. Traffic stops are bullshit. I did plenty of what he was carrying as a lad of his age (and hey, maybe I still do from time to time) but age (and cautionary tales like this one) taught me to leave that stuff at home. Lesson learned, LJ?
I'm certain that if I got busted for one tenth the stupid stuff I did in college I'd never have had a shot at the career I enjoy. I hope he still gets a chance to change course and have the opportunity to pursue his dreams.
When you get a free education and play basketball, extra responsibilities come with that....like not being stupid. Hard to give him a break.
Good thing we are deep and experienced at the PG position!
90% of every student on campus right now could have at some point be busted for exactly what he caught busted for (unless he was over the legal limit while driving). While driving under the influence is pretty f-ed up, I think most fans would give him another shot.
I'm interested to see what the school does, seeing as possession of marijuana in the residence halls is now treated the same way possession of alcohol is. All I know is Coach P doesn't seem like the type of guy that puts up with this type of thing.
But LewJack isn't any other student. He is a student athlete that is represeting Purdue in everything he does and everywhere he goes. That is the added responsibility of being a high profile athlete getting a free education.
Jeez, guys. Let's not jump off the deep end here. So the guy had some weed and booze. BFD.
Let's look at some of these direct comparisons. FFS, Tarrance Crump flippin' ran over a guy with his car! He was suspended for a year, but it was essentially a redshirt year! He had two more years of eligibility and used them semi-productively. This situation pales in comparison to that one.
If anything, his plight indicates the folly that is the collection of alcohol and drug laws throughout the US. Especially when it comes to the War on Drugs. It's a waste of resources and should be ended immediately.
Thankfully, here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I/we/the citizens voted to decriminalise weed back in November, despite the scare tactics of the DAs and the AG. They were afraid that their caseloads would go down. Well, yeah, but isn't that a good thing? Now, we have our own faults and problems here (Taxachusetts, anyone?), but occasions like this one restore my faith in the public. Sometimes, with more time that I spend outside of Indiana and Illinois, I wonder exactly what is going on back there.
Full disclosure: I am a volunteer for Choose Responsibility, an organisation that seeks to reform the nation's booze laws and to make it so that "minor consumption" is not something for which Lewis Jackson or anyone else in his position could get busted.
And Matt, before you go on further about higher standards and call me a "dirty hippie" or anything like that, I am a registered Republican. Just so you know. ;-)
--Eric
Eric is a dirty hippie.
Eric makes a lot of sense. Except being registered Republican. ;-)
I'm afraid the IL and IN states are not as forward thinking and forgiving ("liberal" is the fear-mongering word used to shut down discussion) as MA. Somewhere, as you read this, there's a DA looking to forward his political career by bolstering his tough-on-crime credentials and prosecuting this in as public a manner as possible. Let's hope that person isn't the one who gets the case.
Robbie Hummel could probably use some of that sticky icky.
Illegal drugs (yes, even weed) destroy lives. It is not to be taken lightly. Many people can use it recreationally and not get addicted or have it affect their lives, but some people cannot. A close relative of mine is an addict and has had his life destroyed by weed. The use of resources in fighting drug trafficking/smuggling and enforcing laws the prohibit the use of said illegal drugs in not a waste.
Matt,
I'm really sorry to hear that your relative has been affected in this way. I wish him/her the best for recovery. I don't take any substance lightly - be that pot, nicotine, alcohol, or any other.
I mention alcohol and nicotine because they too are drugs, and the ability to destroy lives is true of all substances - like alcohol and tobacco. Prohibition showed us how successful eradicating supply can be, but we collectively choose to ignore the lessons of that era. Alcohol supply and distribution was left to the mob, and they grew rich and powerful off that market. There are uncanny parallels between the mob's history to modern drug cartels.
We now deal with alcoholism and nicotine addiction through a number of channels, including medical and psychological therapy. Same should be true of other drugs, IMHO. We also expend resources on education to reduce supply. Redirecting funding and efforts from restricting supply to treating the results would be better for society as a whole, and likely, better for your relative.
Agree that alcohol is just as bad a drug. Also agree that more time/money needs to be spent on 12step rehab programs rather than throwing people in jail. The law needs to be upheld as well though.
Looks like the court has come back with a very reasonable punishment.
Mike, I just wanted to let you know that the policy hasnt changed yet. What we voted on and passed was the fact that they'd restructure or look into changing it. I see nothing wrong with smoking but its the drunk driving and the fact that as a student athlete you represent the school, you need to do everything in your power to stay out of trouble or atleast not get caught.
Anonymous,
He wasn't driving drunk. He was speeding and caught with alcohol, drug pariphenalia, and a small amount of pot. If he were driving drunk I'd be of a totally different mindset. Driving drunk is a much more serious offense. You are essentially driving (out of control) a lethal weapon, and have a random chance of killing someone else. Carrying the substances is a different story, IMHO.
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