By: DAVID QUINONES (MiamiHerald.com) —

Former Palmetto running back Jaamal Berry’s name was on a docket to face a Miami-Dade judge in a crowded circuit court Thursday morning after he was arrested June 11 for felony marijuana possession.

But neither Berry nor his attorney were in court. The 18-year-old Ohio State Buckeye was in Columbus for summer classes, and when his name was called, his charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and sent from circuit to county court, which hears minor infractions.

Berry has been in Ohio since June 22, when he reported for summer classes. Ohio State’s student services department confirmed students convicted of felony charges could be suspended or dismissed from school according to code of conduct bylaws, but misdemeanor convictions are not addressed.

Calls to Ohio State’s athletic department were not returned Thursday, but Berry’s name does not appear on the 104-man roster found on the team’s official website.

An arrest report shows Berry was stopped by police shortly after midnight June 11 when he ran a red light at the intersection of Southwest 120th Street and 117 Avenue. During the stop, the officer ”observed a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana” in the back seat of the silver Nissan Altima Berry was driving, according to the report.

When questioned, Berry said he had bought the marijuana — about 28 grams — for himself and friends. He was arrested and taken to Turner G. Knight Correctional Center, where he was released that day on a $5,000 bond.

The misdemeanor charge, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, is punishable by one year in prison or a $1,000 fine.

It is not uncommon for first-time offenders such as Berry to have third-degree felonies reduced to misdemeanors.

Despite an injury-plagued 2008 season, Berry led Palmetto to a district playoff berth by rushing for more than 1,000 yards. Several scouting services ranked Berry as one of the top five high school running backs in the country.

No trial date has been set.