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A car carrying four University of Tennessee basketball players - and two handguns - that was stopped by police had been rented by a Knoxville woman whose personal vehicle had experienced mechanical problems, an attorney said Tuesday.
"There are no NCAA violations here," said T. Scott Jones, who represents the woman and her family. "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 alcohol, 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 where 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, Niya Goins, loaned the car to Smith, Jones said. Niya Goins is not related to Melvin Goins.
The daughter, whom Jones said is in her early 20s, 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" that 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.
Don Jacobs may be reached at 865-342-6345.
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Comments » 17
beachvol1 writes:
Does it really matter, who rented the car...guns n roses, no...guns n drugs, yes....just cut em loose and let it be done...
govols1986 writes:
Another nail for Tyler
ellunitiko writes:
Its all gonna be fine... will be suspended for charlotte, maybe kansas since we will probably lose anyway, but back in time for SEC play
govols1986 writes:
I'm starting to have my doubts about Tyler's future. The big problem I have is he is looked at as the leader on this team, and it appears in this case he was not 'leading' his teammates to make good decisions.
He should have been in 'prevention mode' (i.e., "don't bring that weed in the car", and "you're not riding with me unless you get rid of the guns", etc.). From the looks of things, that's not what happened...
Volumnus writes:
This just keeps getting better. How did these knuckleheads get admitted to any university??? Nashville??? Federal fire arms charges possible. I am not proud of the way my alma mater is responding to this...
IBleedOrange444 writes:
"Federal law for possessing a weapon with an altered firearm carries a maximum five years imprisonment upon conviction."
Hey Don, does that mean that you have to have two guns to get convicted?
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
You don't think of much except how to show U.T in the worst possible light. Try to look at it like this, SOMEBODY unloaded the weapons. That somebody would most likely be the person whose prints are on the guns. Does ANY of that make sense?
Volman66 writes:
I am not sure what to feel about all this. I am angry and ashamed at the same time. I wonder how far the recruiting process goes into looking at character issues? I mean these guys did not just wakeup the other day and say "Hey lets get a bottle, some weed and a few guns and have some fun speeding around town. They must have had some kind of ties to this type of behavior in the past. Maybe we are not looking deep enough into the lives of these young men and women before we offer the scholarships. I think Mr. Hamilton would be wise to look at the procedures that are in place and make sure the are effective enough to prevent something like this from happening again. I know we are not all perfect and I hate to see these young men destroy there lives like this but they made the choice.
Volman66 writes:
I think they are trying there best to do what is right for not only UT but for the student athlete as well. I am all about second chances but with in reason. I think with this latest incident somebody is going to have to pay the price (Be the example) and my guess is it will be Smith.
Chipguy865 writes:
Just get rid of all these idiots and move on with the players who act like they want to be part of this team! If Bruce doesn't get rid of them it will send the wrong kind of message!
Willis writes:
This is not an isloated incident. It finally caught up to them.
GreerVol22 writes:
What exactly are they supposed to do, smart guy? At this point, suspensions and the new "zero tolerance policy" for future incidents is about it. Precedent has been set that they cannot be kicked off unless convicted.
Ringside writes:
Vol Merchandise will now include plastic handguns and toy police cars.
VOLinATL writes:
Well, the mother is going to be in trouble w/Enterprise. I doubt the rental agreement listed a driver under 25 (the daughter) and I guarantee that they did not list Tyler Smith as a driver. I know, minor point...just an FYI.
kd45music writes:
I agree wholeheartedly. Why do we continue to allow these kinds of - I can't call them students - weak character idiots into any university. Who actually believes they are there to get an education. It's a waste of scholarship money. Give the scholarships to kids who want an education and a better life. It's already too late for morons like these four thugs. They should have been helped years ago. Maybe this will be a wakeup call for them, but I doubt it.
537081 writes:
It all stinks I hope the whole thing doesn't blow up in the universitys face.
bayou_jhawk writes:
BIGGEST_BEAR....Did you read the part where it said the weed was found in a backpack with William's name on it?
Sorry about their poor judgement as we were looking forward to this being a real test for the Hawks. Hopefully the rest of the team can step it up and the country will see a great game Sunday. Good luck Vols.
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