By Myra Bean

Rampant rumors concerning football players being arrested for selling drugs to undercover narcotic agents could not  be confirmed  but the Panola County jail log indicated one present player and one former player arrested on Wednesday with drug related charges.

Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Justin Wilson, 206 Tubbs Road, Batesville, was arrested for simple possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. He was released on bail.

Wilson is a senior at South Panola High School and starter on the offense the last two years for the championship South Panola Tigers.

Nineteen-year-old Travius LA Ronald Butler, 214 Tubbs Road, Batesville, remains in jail on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He is a former member of the South Panola football and track teams and is a current student at South Panola.

Investigating officers with the Batesville Police Department could not comment on the ongoing investigation in relationship to these charges, said Don Province of the BPD.

Athletes do come through the arrest record, according to Panola County Chief Deputy Otis Griffin.

“Some, but not a lot,” Griffin added, stating  “We do see former players through here every now and then.”

Griffin is also statistician for the football team.

Other high-profile local players have run afoul of the law as former Tiger and Mississippi State standout Derek Pegues was cited in Starkville on misdemeanor charges of driving on a suspended license and possessing an open container of beer.

Jamarca Sanford, former South Panola standout and Ole Miss Rebel, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.

Both Pegues and Sanford are expected to go into the NFL draft next year according to www.nfldraftscouts.com.