Some charges against Mayfield dropped

Jeremy Mayfield's quest to race in NASCAR again has taken a positive turn as 10 felony burglary-related charges were dropped in Iredell County because the primary witness against him died in a motorcycle accident last year. Mayfield, suspended by NASCAR in May 2009 for a failed drug test, still faces nine felony charges in two other North Carolina counties. Some of the Iredell County charges stemming from alleged burglaries at Red Bull Racing and Fitz Motorsports were dropped in November and the final one was dropped March 6, according to the court file.

The dismissal sheets state that there is insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution because "co-defendant/primary witness against defendant is deceased" and "witness who can establish property was stolen from alleged victim is deceased."

The co-defendant in the case is John Kavann Franklin, who died following an aborted police chase on Sept. 16. Mayfield and Franklin were indicted April 2, 2012 on charges in Iredell County. Mayfield also was charged in those cases in Catawba County, N.C., because that is where he allegedly had the possession of the stolen goods. He faces three possession of stolen goods charges, one charge of obtaining property under false pretense and one methamphetamine possession charge in Catawba, while he faces four larceny charges for stolen goods unrelated to the race-team property in Caldwell County. Those two counties share a prosecutor's office.

Mayfield's next court date is April 1 in Catawba County court. Mayfield has been discussing a possible plea deal the last few months but there has been no resolution and Mayfield has vowed not to make any plea that results in jail time.Sporting News