Country music star Darius Rucker appears in court on drug charges
Rucker is facing charges of simple possession, casual exchange and violation of registration law – all misdemeanors.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Country music star Darius Rucker appeared in court on Tuesday related to his drug charges in Williamson County.
Rucker, known for being the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish and his solo career in the country music scene, was arrested on Feb. 1, nearly a year after he was found with psychedelic drugs during a traffic stop in Franklin, Tennessee, according to his arrest affidavit. He was in court on Tuesday morning for a hearing before Judge Denise Andre. The 58-year-old, wearing a suit and glasses, appeared in court for a docket call. He left the courtroom after the call, and the case was reset for Sept. 10.
Rucker has been fully cooperating with law enforcement since his arrest in February, according to his attorney.
On Feb. 19, 2023, a Franklin Police Department officer pulled Rucker over for a traffic violation on Murfreesboro Road. Police said they smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the singer’s GMC pickup truck. When asked, Rucker said had “smoked weed in the vehicle,” but not that night, according to the affidavit.
Police searched the vehicle, and an officer found 14 unstamped, grayish and purple pills and a THC pen, which read “88.5% THC,” the affidavit said. Police said they also found a blunt on Rucker.
Rucker told police his girlfriend gave him the items and he did not know what the pills were.
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Police released Rucker from the scene without charges, pending the identification of the 14 pills.
An arrest warrant was signed after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the pills tested positive for psilocybin, a psychedelic and a Schedule I controlled substance.
Rucker is facing charges of simple possession, casual exchange, and violation of registration law – all misdemeanors.
He was released from the Williamson County Jail shortly after his arrest on a $10,500 bond.
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