WSU Point Guard Ellison Faces Three Charges

Washington State University basketball player Donminic Ellison will be charged Monday with three misdemeanors stemming from an April 5 traffic stop in which Pullman police discovered 19.6 grams of marijuana, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Ellison will be charged with third-degree driving with a suspended license, possession of less than 40 ounces of marijuana and obstructing an officer, Whitman County deputy prosecutor Monte Cobb said. If convicted, Ellison could be penalized for violating terms of probation for a 1995 incident in which he was caught as a minor in possession of alcohol.

Ellison’s attorney said the point guard will contest the marijuana charge, a gross misdemeanor that, upon conviction, requires at least one day jail time.

“I expect that the resolution of this case will not involve conviction on the drug-related charges,” attorney John Snyder said. “From my perspective, I have some problems with the search of the vehicle.”

Ellison, 20, was pulled over early April 5 when an officer spotted him driving without headlights. A check showed Ellison’s license had been suspended, and a vehicle search turned up the marijuana, police reports say.

The obstruction charge stems from false statements Ellison allegedly made to police, Cobb said. According to Snyder, “it appears to be more of a misunderstanding than lying.”

Snyder, who said he wants the case to be resolved by the time finals start in early May, has instructed Ellison to refrain from discussing the matter.

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