"There are no NCAA violations here. The daughter was utilizing the car and she let somebody else use it."T. Scott Jones
KCSO arrest reports
Court documents
KNOXVILLE - A car carrying four University of Tennessee basketball players stopped by police had been rented by a Knoxville woman whose personal vehicle had experienced mechanical problems, according to an attorney representing the family.
"There are no NCAA violations here," T. Scott Jones said today. "The daughter was utilizing the car and she let somebody else use it."
UT players Tyler Smith, Brian Williams, Cameron Tatum and Melvin Goins were riding in the black 2010 Dodge Charger when it was stopped for allegedly speeding about 11:30 a.m. New Year's Day. Inside the car police found two semiautomatic 9 mm handguns and loaded magazines for each, a bag of marijuana and an open container of liqueur, according to records.
The four players were charged with possessing weapons for the purpose of going armed. Williams, 22, of Bronx, N.Y., and Smith, 23, of Pulaski, Tenn., who were sitting near the passenger seat under which a Taurus handgun was found, also were charged with possessing an item with an altered serial number. The serial number on the Taurus had been filed down.
Williams and Goins, 22, of Dallas, Texas, also face charges of simple possession of marijuana. They were sitting in the back seat of the car where a backpack containing the pot was located. The backpack bore Williams' name, records show.
Jones said Teresa Dixon, of Knoxville, rented the Charger on Dec. 29 after her car broke down. She was paying $27.99 a day for the rental on a special holiday rate, he said. Police said the car was rented at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car on Clinton Highway.
"Her car was due to be fixed this week," Jones said. "Her car was broke down and she was driving this car."
Dixon's daughter loaned the car to Smith, Jones said. The daughter, whom Jones declined to identify until he has an opportunity to speak with her, is not a student at UT.
Although police records show Smith told officers the players were aware of the guns in the car when they picked up the vehicle in Nashville, Jones said the car "was obtained in Knoxville."
Knoxville police have asked to speak to Dixon, Jones said.
"We haven't granted that request yet, although we expect to make her available to police," he said.
Dixon, Jones said, is upset about the matter.
"She's not happy about it," he said. "She's gotten caught up in a whirlwind not of her own making."
Jones said Dixon "denies any knowledge of the weapons" police found in the Charger.
All the charges against the basketball players are misdemeanors.
Federal agents, however, are running traces on the guns to determine if they had been reported stolen or had been linked through ballistics to any crimes.
In addition, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number is a federal offense. U.S. Attorney Russ Dedrick said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will determine if his office should review the case for possible federal charges.
Federal law for possessing a weapon with an altered serial number carries a maximum five years imprisonment upon conviction.
All of the players have been indefinitely suspended from the team by coach Bruce Pearl.
More details as they develop online and in Wednesday's News Sentinel.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 96
midnite__VOL writes:
and the plot thickens....
john1998 writes:
25% of Bruce Pearl's basketball team was arrested last week.
23 percent of Lane Kiffin's first recruiting class at UT has either been convicted of a felony or arrested.
22 percent of Lane Kiffin's coaching staff has been convicted of various crimes, including: domestic assault, DUI, driving while impaired, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to render aid.
#####
"There is a cancer growing around this Presidency, and I think it will end up being malignant." - John Dean
Kasey writes:
I'd want to kill one of my kids if I had a rental car and they loaned it to one of their friends. She denied knowledge of the guns, so that puts them right back on the players for sure.
She wants to talk to the one player so they can get their lies straight.
BrassMonkey writes:
First.
Ironcity writes:
I bet she is upset, The rental company is going to nail her for letting someone smoke in the car. I believe the fine is $500. The fact that she has an attorney suggest that the police believe there is more to this.
dvols writes:
it all falls on enterprise car rental....they own the car...the are liable..CASE CLOSED.
let the playas play!
Ironcity writes:
There is 100% guarantee that your an idiot.
coolrunner writes:
I am sure Dixon listed these guys as additional drivers on the rental contract LOL!
wonderosa writes:
So now it comes out that Tyler lied to the police about where they got the car? Not good...
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Nasty situation. Good grief.
heyitsme writes:
ROTFLMAO....
john1998 writes:
<<Ironcity writes: "There is 100% guarantee that your an idiot.">>
Maybe. But there is absolutely a 100 percent certainty that you don't understand the use of contractions.
(I know that playing grammar cop is poor cricket, but not after being called an idiot.)
Volunatic writes:
John Dean thought the cancer will end up being malignant? (John Dean was a major part of the "malignancy" of the Nixon administration, by the way.)
I wouldn't classify Fulmer die-hards as "cancers" on the GVX boards. More like "boils".
halloffamebowler writes:
The more you post,the more stupid you post.
Thad123 writes:
Ut letterman? Yea right. You are so full of phooey its funny. If you are and have so much wisdom then reveal yourself.
bmcreynolds#558786 writes:
What were they doing in Nashville, anyway? Does anyone know the answer to that? Something smells here. They were up to no good. Look at the facts:
1. 11:30AM in the morning.
2. Speeding down Alcoa Highway.
3. Open beer.
4. Empty Vodka bottle.
5. Pot smoke billowing out the window.
6. Bag of pot in the backpack.
7. Loaded gun under the driver's seat.
8. Loaded gun with filed off serial # under the passenger seat.
9. 2010 Dodge Charger rental car but not rented to any of them.
10.Said they picked the car up in Nashville?
11.The guns were under the seat when they picked the car up?
12.Who did they pick the car up from and why in Nashville?
13.How did they get to Nashville to pick the car up in the first place? Fly?
14.Refuse to let the officers search the car.
15.None of them claim the guns.
16.None of them claim the pot.
There's just something wrong with these fact. Just something terribly, terribly wrong.
Bearwuzacheater writes:
stop with that we stuff troll!
ZULU3 writes:
GET RID OF THE DRUGS AND THE GUNS WILL DISAPPEAR.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Duke and bmcreynolds, very good questions. I also have to say that it all seems like they were planning a drive-by. Sadly, I've lived in an environment where this was common, and I have some (as in a small amount) of knowledge about this.
They "rented" a car not in their name and were in possession of stolen or untraceable weapons. You can tell me that they wouldn't do such a thing, that they've got more going for them...but look at what they already got themselves into.
What were they planning to do, exactly?
halloffamebowler writes:
I have news for you.That stuff is in Morristown,Newport,White Pine and all points in any direction you choose.As someone said about other cities,the best thing out of Morristown is the interstate.
Ayres_Hall writes:
Does any of this backstory really matter?
1vavolfan writes:
Have these guys "lawyered up " yet? Jantzen had the top attorney in town the day after his arrest. Sounds like these guys need it.
6MillionDollarPumpkin writes:
Hamblen County??? You mean little Mexico dont you??
87UTVOL writes:
Wasn't one of Pat's player's caught smoking weed?
Young people sometimes make bad decisions. Sometimes those bad decisions have bad consequences.
I want more facts. As evidenced by the thread of comments here, we have a lot of questions and few facts. I remember everyone jumping to conclusions after the incident with the football players. Then, we learned more facts, along with the police and DA's office. That's the process everyone is going through now.
mciahf#240671 writes:
I was looking at pictures of the car. How on earth did 6'10" Brian Williams get himself in the back seat of that thing???
BigHornBuckShot writes:
I can't tell you for sure what the story is. It keeps changing. Tyler Smith said they picked the car up in Nashville. Now we find out that that was a lie. It was borrowed here in Knoxville, but how can we believe that? Wasn't Bruce just a little bit concerned about what his players had in mind for New Year's eve. Was they reminded to behave, please behave, before they broke for the day? Now Bruce knows they are lying so it is all on him. Lets just see what kind of a coach we have. I am not sure even Botch can get them out of this one. I am just glad the cop got to them first.
khelton657 writes:
93% of all statistics are BS
BigHornBuckShot writes:
The attorney for the girl says she is upset. Said she has been caught up in a whirlwind not of her on making. Now what can we make of that. Was the car stolen? I thought she loaned it to them. If she loaned the car to the guys, was that not of her own making? This is good.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Pearl is not the police department or the newspaper, dolt. He has no obligation to report to you about information that may be potentially incriminating learned in private conversations. He only has an obligation to protect the basketball program, and that means in this case meting out discipline. The information you desire will eventually come out from the police reports and court proceedings. Wise up.
mm29680#645909 writes:
Do you ever see top notch teams like UNC, Duke, Kansas getting this kind of press? No. Why? They recruit players with brains, skill and character. Can we not do that and win?
Sadly, UT '69 - GO VOLS!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Are you a sixth grader?
CoverOrange writes:
JohnL,
4 of 14 is 28%, minor math correction
4 players arrested or cited. Name the convicted felon.
22% of CLK staff is 2 assistants and those crimes go back 17-18 years.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
another fifth grader.
VolunteerLifer writes:
I've got a better idea for you: pretend the moon is made of green cheese. Since your imagination is so good, why don't you see what irrelevant nonsense you can imagine from that starting point.
VOLoom writes:
Probably where they grew the weed.
Ironcity writes:
IF they did come up to your neighborhood I am sure you would put your hood on and try to chase then away.
tulelakevol writes:
john 1998, you scored big time troll girl, look at all the responses to your drivel.
SoFlaVol writes:
I grew up in Hamblen County and if you think those things aren't already in "your neighborhoods" then you're a fool. Notice the proper use of your and you're.
darien writes:
I don't know about the accuracy of the rest of your post, but you got the John Dean quote wrong. What he actually said was "I began by telling the president that there was a cancer growing on the presidency and that if the cancer was not removed the president himself would be killed by it."
tulelakevol writes:
Wow, Ironcity just went KKK on Mvol. Dude lighten up!
tulelakevol writes:
Lizzie writes:
bmcreynolds#558786: Why the need to question ordinary things unrelated to the charges? Are the charges not serious enough on their own without your embellishment?
What were they doing in Nashville? They went to pick up the rental car, any other reasons would not be your, or my concern if not related to the charges.
Why do you assume they were up to no good?
Had they pointed either of the guns at anyone?
Had they attempted a robbery?
Why are you assuming they are planning a crime when, at this time, there is nothing indicating such?
Isn't everyone innocent until proven guilty?
Let's look at how you choose to present "your facts:"
1. 11:30am - Nothing sinister here
2. Speeding down Alcoa Hwy - Not smart
3. Open Beer - Not smart, but officer had no reason to think anyone was intoxicated.
4. Empty vodka bottle - Not smart
5. Pot smoke billowing out the window. - False. The officer said he detected the odor of burnt marihuana when the window was rolled down.
6. Bag of pot in backpack - Very poor judgement & incredibly stupid but a misdemeanor.
7. Loaded gun under driver's seat - Poor judgement but very common.
8. Loaded gun under passenger seat w/altered serial # - Serious federal charge for possession, but there may be no way to determine who altered the serial #. Only one of the four owned it, not all of them.
9. Rental car not rented to them. It has been established that the car was rented to girlfriend who rented car b/c her car needed repairs then she loaned it. Poor judgement on her part.
10. Said they picked up rental in Nashville. Do you have proof otherwise?
11. Guns were under seats when they picked the car up? Where did you read this? I may have missed this detail, but I don't recall anyone saying this.
12. Who did they pick up the car from and why in Nashville? They picked it up in Nashvile b/c that's where the car was. Who from? The girl friend probably gave them the keys since it was rented to her.
13. How did they get to Nashville to pick up the car? Fly? First, I'm not sure how that relates to the charges, but they drove.
14. Refuse to let the officers search the car.
15. None of them claim the guns.
16. None of them claim the pot.
I'll cover the last 3 together. No one should allow a search of their person, car, or home without a warrant. That is our constitutional right & it is there for a reason.
The only information to be given to a police officer is one's driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance.
Even the providers of car insurance advise that no other information be given.
Any lawyer will advise you to not say anything without having a lawyer present. It is too easy to say something that can be taken out of context and used against you at a later time.
Their actions were correct.
SoFlaVol writes:
No, my momma never hung at the trailer parks.
Ironcity writes:
Yeah that smart Duke Lacrosse team sure did stay out of the press.
Kansas has had numerous problems so thats an awful example.
You guys live in this cocoon known as Knoxville and have no idea of whats happening all across campuses in this country.
It doesn't make it right but don't be so naive to think UT is the only school with these problems. Unfortunately they are all happening at one time it seems.
Also understand right or wrong most schools are better at covering this phooey up better then UT. When something happens here its on line within 60 minutes. I am not sure I should congratulate the KNS or curse them but they are definitely spending there time keeping up with what UT does.
oimo2005#352417 writes:
http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/how-m...
To save you from clicking the link, about 50% of American males will be arrested in their lifetimes. I imagine a large portion of those occur around the age of a college student.
I know the arrests look bad, but I expect most of these charges to be dropped before it is all said and done.
cc623 writes:
CBP is smart enough not to talk about the specifics of an ongoing investigation wise man.I'm sure he knows plenty of what is going on and who is guilty or not.
You do know it is illegal to tell the specifics of an ongoing investigation right?The stuff that was released to the media by the KPD and the various lawyers is only a portion but,the stuff that everyone wants to know would constitute a charge of interfering with an ongoing investigation.How do some of you people survive daily life?
Ironcity writes:
This is a little off subject but in the Yahoo headlines they write about this great player for Texas who overcame adversity of a DUI as he plowed into a building. Cussing a coach, and a second crash while texting. This in his first three years on campus.
They spoke of how he has matured and will now be a first round pick. So all of you who act like we are the only program that has issues and that we are the only program that gives players second chances need to just open your eyes a little and you will notice its an issue everywhere.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Must be 25 to drive a rental car ... oops.
newportvol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
garrthom writes:
Well maybe this will be a good enough cover to keep the NCAA off us. I'm sure they will figure out how to make it just a big misunderstanding.
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