Top NFL Draft prospect Jalen Carter was booked into jail and quickly released Wednesday night, about 12 hours after police in Athens, Georgia, issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a Jan. 15 crash that killed a UGA teammate and recruiting staffer and left two others injured.
The crash, initially ruled a single-car accident, killed Carter's 20-year-old teammate Devin Willock and 24-year-old recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. According to the police statement, the SUV LeCroy was driving reached a top speed of 104 mph at one point and she had a BAC of .197, which investigators ruled as serious factors in the crash.
Athens-Clarke County Police on Wednesday recommended charges of street racing and reckless driving against Carter in connection with the wreck, according to a news release. Carter has been projected as a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, joining Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson as the top non-QB talent available.
Carter was in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine when the news broke, but he returned to Athens later in the day and was booked into jail at 11:33 p.m. ET before being released on $4,000 bond at 11:49 p.m., according to multiple media reports.
Jalen Carter turned himself in last night on the two misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. He was booked at the Athens-Clarke County jail at 11:33 p.m., and released on bond at 11:49 p.m, posting bond of $4,000 for the two charges.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) March 2, 2023
Earlier Wednesday, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report indicated Carter misled police about his proximity to the incident. After initially claiming he was a mile away from the accident, Carter gave an account that was reportedly inconsistent before telling investigators he was tailing LeCroy and Willock's vehicle close enough to see the taillights, while also saying he was at one point side-by-side. The police said in a statement the drivers involved were “operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing."
According to the AJC, Carter left the scene before authorities arrived. There was a third car seen leaving with Carter's Cherokee Trackhawk and the 2021 Ford Expedition LeCroy was driving. It was a 2019 Dodge Charger that reportedly belonged to UGA linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, who was reportedly charged for street racing and reckless driving in a separate incident five days before the fatal crash.
What is Jalen Carter being charged with?
In a release from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the ACCPD said Carter is being charged with misdemeanors of "Reckless Driving and Racing."
The release details the events of the crash, including LeCroy's elevated BAC and the efforts both cars were making to overtake each other in the race.
Jalen Carter is subject of arrest warrant in Athens after being implicated by police for racing in the crash that took the life of former teammate, and UGA staffer. pic.twitter.com/2TC0DS40sO
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) March 1, 2023
According to police, they have surveillance footage along the route, as the players and staffers were driving from a downtown Athens strip club to a Waffle House around 2:15 a.m. The accident occurred hours after Georgia's national championship celebration at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart issued a statement Wednesday saying Georgia would cooperate with the investigation.
"The charges announced today are deeply concerning, especially as we are still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community," Smart said, per Anthony Dasher. "We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy.”
Carter was scheduled to speak to the media in Indianapolis shortly after news of the arrest warrant broke. An NFL official later told reporters there that Carter would remain at Lucas Oil Field to undergo pre-draft medical examinations but would not speak to the media.
Jalen Carter statement
Carter issued a statement Wednesday afternoon addressing the charges, saying reports were inaccurate and he will be "exonerated" once the facts are known.
This morning I received a telephone call from the Athens Georgia Police Department informing me that two misdemeanor warrants have been issued against me for Reckless Driving and Racing. Numerous media reports also have circulated this morning containing inaccurate information concerning the tragic events of January 15, 2023. It is my intention to to return to Athens to answer the misdemeanor charges against me and to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented. There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.
Carter turned himself into Athens police Wednesday night and was released 15 minutes later on bond, per Adam Schefter. He then returned to Indianapolis to finish interviewing with teams and participate in Combine drills over the weekend.
Jalen Carter plea deal
On March 16, it was reported that Carter entered a plea deal with Athens-Clarke County solicitors, per The Athletic's Seth Emerson.
Carter pled no contest to the charges against him. What were his resulting punishments? They are as follows:
- 12 months of probation
- Pay a $1,000 fine
- Perform 80 hours of community service
- Finish a driving course
Carter will avoid jail time as a part of his deal. His attorney released a statement on his behalf after the plea, saying that he did not cause the fatal accident and that he cooperated with the police investigation into it every step of the way.
Statement from Jalen Carter’s attorney Kim T. Stephens on Carter pleading no contest to misdemeanor traffic violations. Stephens states Carter’s actions did not cause the fatal accident, notes he didn’t leave the scene without being told he could and wasn’t under the influence. pic.twitter.com/TufKljwFLg
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2023