Notre Dame WR Kevin Stepherson charged with possession of marijuana

Notre Dame sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson has been charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, as well as speeding and driving without a valid driver's license, according to Marshall County Superior Court documents.

The charges, which were filed on Friday, stem from an incident that took place on Dec. 14, a day before Stepherson and freshman running back C.J. Holmes were arrested for allegedly shoplifting at University Park Mall on Mishawaka.

An initial hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Stepherson was also arrested for possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor, in Aug. 2016.

In a press conference on Thursday, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly confirmed that Stepherson has been indefinitely suspended from the team but added that a permanent decision on the wide receiver's future has not been reached. Notre Dame had no further comment after the marijuana charge was filed on Friday.

Stepherson's struggles, in a tumultuous start to his Irish career, have not come on the field. The former Jacksonville First Coast High School standout was also arrested in Fulton County in Aug. 2016 for possession of marijuana. He pleaded guilty and was granted a conditional discharge in June.

Additionally, Kelly would neither confirm nor deny in August that Stepherson was serving a suspension. He was relegated to the practice squad throughout much of fall camp and did not appear in Notre Dame's first four games.

According to the police report attached with the shoplifting arrest, an officer working at University Park Mall on Friday evening received a report from mall security of a possible shoplifting at Macy’s. Loss prevention employees reportedly witnessed Stepherson and Holmes enter the changing room and conceal clothing, then attempt to leave the store.

Police stopped Stepherson and Holmes and recovered a pair of grey Nautica sweatpants, worth $59.50, that Stepherson was wearing, as well as a $79.50 grey Nautica sweatshirt that Holmes had put in his shopping bag. Police notified the pair of their proxy arrest and released them from the scene.

The case has been forwarded to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office for a final decision on filing formal charges.

Stepherson — a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver from Jacksonville, Fla. — caught 19 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns this season, despite sitting out the first four games for disciplinary reasons. He has 44 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns in less than two full seasons in South Bend.