Georgia Bulldogs: Jonathan Ledbetter charges dismissed
On March 20, University of Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter was arrested at the Silver Dollar Bar in Athens based on alcohol-related charges. Why were the charges dropped and how does it impact UGA?
Jonathan Ledbetter’s misdemeanor charges, for possession of a fake ID and underage consumption of alcohol, were dropped on Monday, May 23.
According to the police report, Ledbetter was “very inebriated” when he tried to enter the bar and was denied access. An issue with how his identity was obtained by Athens-Clarke County police ultimately led to the dropping of the charges.
Once Athens-Clarke Solicitor General C.R. Chisholm reviewed the evidence, while it was apparent that Ledbetter was in fact intoxicated, he said, “We would not be able to overcome a motion to suppress in the case. So we would not have been able to present that evidence if it had gone to a trial.”
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Shortly after the initial arrest in March the Georgia Bulldogs announced that Ledbetter would be suspended for one game. That one game is the season opener against North Carolina. This is standard procedure for a first violation of the school’s drug and alcohol policy.
It is understandable that the charges were dropped, for more so than even lack of evidence. College students, even football players, are notorious for drinking underage.
In the grand scheme of athlete arrests and charges this one should be looked at for what it’s worth: a young college student learning a lesson. Call it growing pains.
The University of Georgia, under former head coach Mark Richt, was one of the most stringent universities in the SEC concerning player discipline.
With these continued player transgressions, will Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart continue the heavy-handed disciplinary ways of Richt, or will things begin to loosen up?
In light of the recent problems at Baylor and other universities concerning player discipline, is now the time to loosen up or continue the high expectations that the Georgia Bulldogs have become known for under Richt?
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Hopefully Ledbetter has learned his lesson. His Twitter apology and the comments from Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart about his show of remorse can hopefully suggest that there will be no further offenses.