The Mississippi State football team will be without freshman running back Nick Turner, who is being investigated by police and the Secret Service. Turner turned himself in to local police early Monday afternoon.
Turner was then released from Police custody on $5,000 bond.
“He (Turner) did come into our office Monday,” Starkville Police Chief David Lindley said. “This is an ongoing investigation, but we do not foresee anyone else being charged locally.”
While Turner traveled with the football team this past Saturday to Memphis, he was not allowed to dress or compete in the contest. He has since been suspended from the team indefinitely, pending the investigation of his charges.
“He is suspended from playing or anything to do with getting ready to play,” MSU head football coach Jackie Sherrill told The Clarion-Ledger earlier in the week.
The MSU athletic department has declined further comment.
Turner has been charged with possession of counterfeit currency after an incident at Remington’s Hunt Club last week, a charge that carries up to a 15-year prison sentence. Because the charges involve U.S. currency, the U.S. Secret Service state field offices are in charge of investigating the allegations.
“We are not allowed to comment extensively, because this is still a pending investigation,” U.S. Secret Service Agent Mickey Nelson said. “I can say that the Secret Service takes every instance of usage of false or counterfeit U.S. currency as a serious matter, and this will be no different.”
MSU does not have any specific penalty required in a situation of this sort, and Turner will be allowed to continue to remain in school while the charges are investigated.
“We take situations like these on a case-by-case basis,” associate dean of students Thomas Bourgeois said. “We look at if the person will be a danger to the university community.
“Normally in situations involving students’ actions off campus, we are not involved. If we feel like there’s something there serious enough to warrant investigation, we will do so.
“Until we get official information from all the investigating parties, we won’t do anything.”
Charles Yoste, Turner’s defense attorney, said that a hearing will be set.
“A hearing will be set for Nov. 4 to decide if there is probable cause to charge Turner,” Yoste said. ” If he (Turner) is charged, then he will go in front of the grand jury sometime in January.
“He is my client; I am his advocate; I will do everything I can to defend him.”
Yoste said that he hopes that Turner will remain as a scholarship athlete.
Yoste also said Turner will not face federal charges because the case is not of the magnitude to warrant federal charges.
Turner, an Atlanta, Ga., native came onto MSU’s campus this past summer as one of the Bulldogs’ most prized recruits. He was selected to the Parade All-America team, an honor only 10 running backs in the nation receive.
Turner was also regarded by many media outlets as one of the top running backs in the nation.
So far this season, Turner competed in the first four Bulldog contests. He has seen only limited action with the Bulldog offense with eight rushes for 31 yards and five catches for 59 yards.
Turner has shown the ability that made him a national recruit for the Bulldog special teams on punt and kick returns. Turner had returned four punts for 46 yards, an 11.5-yard average second best on the team. He also led the Bulldogs in kickoff return average with 26.8 yards per return, and he stands fifth in all-purpose yards this season with 67.8.