Sturdivant has charge dismissed

A simple possession of marijuana charge against North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant was voluntarily dismissed this week in Stanly County after he entered a deferred prosecution agreement.

Assistant District Attorney John Phillips said Friday that Sturdivant will be required to do 24 hours of community service and will have a substance abuse assessment as part of the deferred prosecution agreement. His case was dismissed Monday.

Phillips said Sturdivant's lawyer, Charles Parnell, stated that Sturdivant was a person of good character without a prior criminal record who had made a mistake. Phillips said the deferred prosecution agreement was "pretty routine" for first-time offenders charged with a Class III misdemeanor.

Sturdivant was charged July 10 after a traffic stop in the parking lot of a Bojangles' restaurant in Albemarle.

The citation showed that he possessed less than a half-ounce of marijuana.

Coach Butch Davis had said that Sturdivant had disappointed the program and would be disciplined, but didn't specify how Sturdivant would be disciplined. Earlier this week, Davis said Sturdivant would not be suspended for the Sept. 4 season-opener with LSU.

Last season Sturdivant, who is from Oakboro, earned first-team All-ACC honors after leading the team with 79 tackles as a junior.