Report: Duke men's basketball's Michael Savarino, Paolo Banchero face DWI-related charges

Duke men's basketball's Michael Savarino and Paolo Banchero face charges following an arrest for driving while impaired early Sunday in Orange County, The News & Observer's Steve Wiseman first reported.

Savarino was arrested by N.C. Highway Patrol at 1:10 am for DWI and is charged with DWI, driving after drinking alcohol under the age of 21 and a stop sign violation. Banchero was charged with aiding and abetting DWI before being released at the site of the traffic stop. North Carolina state law says that aiding and abetting a DWI is when they knowingly advise, instigate, encourage or aid someone to drive, or attempt to drive, while that person is impaired. The News & Observer reported that Savarino was driving a 2017 Jeep SUV that is registered to Banchero with Banchero as a passenger in the backseat of the vehicle.

The North Carolina state law reads that aiding and abetting a DWI is when "he knowingly advises, instigates, encourages, or aids another person to drive while impaired and his actions cause or contribute to the commission of the crime."

According to the report, Savarino, head coach Mike Krzyzewski's grandson, has a court date Dec. 9, while Banchero's date is Dec. 8.

“We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men’s basketball team," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said through a team spokesperson after The Chronicle asked for comment. "Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials.”

N.C. Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Christopher Knox said that he stopped Savarino for a stop sign violation outside Hillsborough and saw signs of impairment, The News & Observer reported. Savarino's blood alcohol content was 0.08.

In the state of North Carolina, an underage individual can be charged with a DWI if they drive a vehicle while actively consuming alcohol or having any amount of alcohol or controlled substance in their body. The state has a zero-tolerance alcohol law, meaning the people under 21 can be charged with a DWI for violating either of the two aforementioned clauses. 

The legal limit for blood alcohol content in the state of North Carolina is 0.08, meaning anyone regardless of age can be arrested for a DWI with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater.