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Bluelighter
Wrestler faces drug charges
BY GORDON ANDERSON - The Sanford Herald
Published: Sun, Sep. 13, 2009 02:00AM
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CAMERON -- Jeff Hardy, a World Wrestling Entertainment star, was charged Friday with possessing several illegal drugs, including cocaine, prescription pills and anabolic steroids.
The arrest followed a search of Hardy's home in Cameron, which turned up 262 Vicodin pills, 180 Soma pills, about half a liter of an unspecified anabolic steroid, a residual amount of powder cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to authorities.
Hardy, 32, has worked off and on for the well-known professional wrestling circuit since he was a teenager. Prior to his work with WWE, he ran a local promotion known as OMEGA with the help of his brother, Matt.
As tag-team wrestlers, Hardy and his brother held the WWE's tag team championship six times. Jeff Hardy was also a three-time holder of the WWE's heavyweight championship. When not wrestling, Hardy has been involved in motocross and performs in a rock band.
Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey of the Moore County Sheriff's Office said deputies searched Hardy's home after receiving information developed by the Fayetteville Police Department.
Godfrey said Hardy and his wife were at home when the raid took place about 10:30 a.m. Friday. Hardy's wife was not arrested.
According to Godfrey, the case remains under investigation, and further charges are possible.
He declined to say whether the additional charges could be against Hardy or others.
Godfrey said it's too early to say whether the drugs found at Hardy's house were for his personal use or he was selling them to others.
Hardy was charged with trafficking in opium, two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling for drugs, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He will make a first appearance Monday in Moore County District Court.
A conviction on an opium trafficking charge, even for a first-time offender, carries a mandatory prison sentence of three to 14 years.
Hardy wrote about the charges on his Twitter page Friday afternoon, saying he was "at home and fine -- thanks for your concern."
"For the record, [Matt] didn't bail me out, loan me money, or is his name on anything," Hardy stated on the page. "He's just learning about today's situation. The media is the media, I wish they would at least report the story correctly & accurately. I will make a statement later."
Officials with World Wrestling Entertainment didn't respond to calls seeking comment Friday.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1687204.html