For Michael Phelps, one rip of the ROOR could end up costing him 30 days of freedom.
According to a report from ESPN.com, the Richland County Sheriff's Office is currently conducting an investigation regarding the highly publicized photo of the Olympic champion smoking weed out of a bong.
If charged, Phelps faces up to $700 in fines, not to mention a month in the slammer.
While the Editorial Board made clear our stance on Phelps' decision to engage in such behavior, we believe it would be ludicrous for the athlete to face a criminal trial in South Carolina.
Normally such an announcement would appear to be a publicity stunt by law enforcement, but Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has a reputation for taking a strong stance against drugs.
Lott isn't exactly some doughnut-downing rent-a-cop - rather, he has extensive experience cracking down on drug dealers. Working undercover with federal agents á la "Miami Vice," Lott went as far as to drive around in a Porsche complete with snazzy suits and long hair.
The Editorial Board encourages Lott to take a hint from Columbia police who said they will consider the incident a nonissue so long as no new information surfaces. We can empathize with Lott's fear of appearing "soft" while in the public eye, but unfairly bringing down Phelps' star probably isn't the answer.
If a picture of a random Gamecocks student smoking pot in November surfaced today, do you think Lott would care?
Then again, perhaps Speedo should fast-track plans to design Phelps' latest swimsuit with pinstripes.
