New Mexico State football players charged with misdemeanors in separate cases

Two New Mexico State football players were arrested last week on misdemeanor charges, according to documents provided to the Journal.

Drake Williams, a freshman linebacker, was arrested Friday on two misdemeanor counts of battery against a household member. He was scheduled for an arraignment early Monday afternoon in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, but remained listed as an inmate at the time of publication.

“We are aware of the situation and the student-athlete (Williams) is cooperating with law enforcement,” an NMSU athletics spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Journal. “As this is an ongoing matter, we will not have further comment at this time.”

Vic Shaw, a redshirt junior defensive end, was arrested early March 8 on misdemeanor counts of negligent use of a deadly weapon (intoxication); concealing identity; and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in a March 9 arraignment and was later released with conditions.

Shaw’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 6.

“The student-athlete (Shaw) has been suspended indefinitely and is cooperating with law enforcement and university processes,” an NMSU athletics spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Journal.

Williams is alleged to have been part of two altercations with a woman he has been in a relationship with since last fall. Both allegedly occurred at the women’s room in a student dormitory on NMSU’s campus.

On March 8, Williams is alleged to have repeatedly forced the woman out of her room by grabbing the collar of her shirt, leaving bruising “consistent with the collar” on the back of her neck, per an affidavit.

Williams returned to the women’s room March 12 to retrieve a debit card that belonged to him, the affidavit stated. An argument ensued before Williams allegedly grabbed the woman by her throat and left arm while demanding his card, causing bruising and cuts to the woman’s arm from her bracelets.

Williams was arrested by NMSU Police Department and booked into Doña Ana County Detention Center on Saturday. The Houston native is set to enter his second season with the Aggies after appearing in four games last year. 

Shaw was arrested after police officers were dispatched to a “suspicious activity call” near 715 Cactus St. at approximately 1 a.m. on March 8. A criminal complaint noted that officers observed Shaw and another man in an argument and approached the two, leading Shaw to run into a house on Juniper Street.

Shaw is alleged to have left the house holding an “AR style rifle” only to re-enter and return without it. The complaint said officers smelled the “odor of (an) alcoholic beverage” on him, and that he repeatedly pulled away from police until he was placed in handcuffs.

Police allege Shaw, while being put into a police vehicle, obstructed officers from closing the vehicle door with his hand and knee. The complaint stated he “refused” to provide his information and wasn’t identified until an officer found his wallet. 

A UTSA transfer, Shaw joined the Aggies this January via the transfer portal. The Texarkana, Texas native posted 22 total tackles over the course of 12 games with the Roadrunners last season.

Note: The Doña Ana County Detention Center did not provide Vic Shaw’s booking mug.

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.