*Updated at 12:50 p.m.*
KNOXVILLE -- Felony theft charges against Tennessee football player Coleman Thomas were dismissed on Wednesday, three weeks after the rising sophomore offensive tackle was arrested for selling a stolen video game system and other items to a local gaming store.
After an April 7 arraignment date, Thomas was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in two weeks, but the charges were dropped.
Jimmy Stanton, Tennessee's associate athletic director for communication, told the Times Free Press early Wednesday afternoon that Thomas has been reinstated to the football program. Thomas was suspended from all team activities while the legal process played out. The Vols return to practice Thursday afternoon.
Thomas's attorney, Don Bosch, released a statement on his client's behalf to the Times Free Press.
"It appears that a rush to judgement was made charging Coleman Thomas with this offense. Mr. Thomas did not commit any crime, and was unaware that the XBox and three video games in question had been stolen. He fully cooperated from the first minute he was notified by law enforcement, and it was unfortunate that such a hasty decision to charge Mr. Thomas was made solely by the University of Tennessee Police Department."
Tennessee offensive lineman Coleman Thomas was arrested on felony theft charges on March 26, 2015. (Photo courtesy of the Knox County Sheriff's Office)According to a Knox County Sheriff's Office arrest report, an Xbox, one controller and three games were stolen out of Tennessee student James Shelton's dorm room on March 13, the Friday before spring break.
Thomas was arrested after it was discovered he sold the items to a GameStop located on Clinton Highway in North Knoxville. The cost to reimburse the store was $176. The value of the stolen items was $640, and theft of items between $500.01 and $999.99 is a Class E felony.
A source told the Times Free Press that two of Thomas's former teammates were involved in the incident and that one of those former players stole the items out of the dorm room, but no other charges have been made in connection with the incident.
As a freshman in 2014, Thomas started five games at right tackle before an ankle injury forced him to miss two games and he was pushed into a backup role. The Virginia native began spring practice with the first-team offensive line at right tackle. Brett Kendrick took over that spot following Thomas's arrest.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.