Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas arrested for child abuse and assault

FILE – Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas (5) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Thomas was arrested early Friday, July 26, 2024, in Athens, Ga., on child abuse and assault charges, adding to the team’s recent legal troubles. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia wide receiver Rodarius “Rara” Thomas was arrested early Friday on child abuse and assault charges, adding to the team’s recent legal troubles.

Athens-Clarke County Jail records show Thomas was arrested at 3:20 a.m. on charges of child abuse and assault. As of late Friday morning, bail had not been set.

This is Thomas’ second arrest in two years. Thomas, a transfer from Mississippi State, was arrested by University of Georgia police on January 23, 2023, on charges of false imprisonment and domestic violence. The charges were dropped.

Details of Friday’s arrest, which also involved a domestic violence crime, were not immediately available. It was not known whether Thomas had legal representation.

Steven Drummond, Georgia’s deputy athletic director for strategic communications, said in a statement to the Associated Press: “This is a pending legal matter. We will have no further comment at this time.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart spoke at the Southeastern Conference media days on July 16 about attempts to combat repeated traffic violations by his players.

Smart said players have been suspended and fined by the association, which makes name, image and likeness payments to the school’s athletes.

As the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported, Georgia players were involved in 24 traffic-related violations (driving under the influence, reckless driving or speeding), including a January 2023 crash that killed a player and a recruiting staff member.

“The incidents that occurred off the field are not something we can tolerate,” Smart said at the SEC’s media days. “It’s very unfortunate, disappointing, I think that’s the best word for it.”

Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy were killed in a car crash on January 15, 2023, just days after the Bulldogs won the national title game.

___

AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football