Rental car driven by UNC's Hairston linked to convicted felon
The rental car North Carolina junior P.J. Hairston was driving when he was arrested in June was registered to convicted felon Haydn Thomas.
Hairston was also cited for speeding in May while driving a rental car registered to a woman with the same address as Thomas.
USA Today found out that the Chevrolet Camaro SS rental that Hairston drove was paid for by Catinia Farrington, whose Durham, N.C., address matched Thomas' on Hertz rental car receipts the newspaper obtained. He was cited on May 13.
A public records search by ESPN.com confirmed that Thomas and Farrington shared the same address.
Hairston was arrested June 5 on marijuana possession charges, along with Durham residents Miykael Faulcon and Carlos Sanford, who were passengers in the 2013 GMC Yukon that Hairston was driving. Police found a 9-millimeter handgun, nine rounds of ammunition and a half-ounce of marijuana outside the vehicle after Hairston was pulled over.
They released on $1,000 unsecured bail. Hairston was also ticketed for driving without a license.
Last week, Thomas told USA Today that he did not know Hairston. Thomas was convicted in 2006 on a felony charge of illegally accessing computers. He added that was not a North Carolina booster, did not have ties to any sports agents and his friend, Faulcon, borrowed the vehicle driven by Hairston in the June 5 arrest.
North Carolina coach Roy Williams, athletic director Bubba Cunningham and the NCAA did not respond to multiple requests by ESPN to comment Monday.
Hairston is schedule to appear in court Aug. 2 for the speeding ticket.
Hairston led the Tar Heels in scoring with 14.6 points per game last season.
