Football recruit arrested in theft at UGA

Monday, April 18, 2011
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

Photo by Philip Jean

ATHENS -- Two football players from Carver High School in Columbus have been charged in connection with thefts from the University of Georgia football locker room, authorities said.

Deion Bonner, 18, and Marquise T. Hawkins, 17, were charged Monday with theft by taking, according to court records. A third person was arrested and identified only as being younger than 17.

Items totaling $1,990 were stolen on April 7 from the lockers of seven Georgia football players, police said.

Bonner, listed by rivals.com as being recruited as a cornerback by Georgia and other schools, posted $1,500 bond and Hawkins posted $3,000 bond, according to court records.

The court did not have a record of either having an attorney.

Carver Coach Del McGee told the Athens Banner-Herald that he has spoken with Georgia Coach Mark Richt several times since the incident and apologized.

McGee said he had not been told that the Bulldogs will no longer recruit Bonner, "but I would assume that they wouldn't."

McGee added that the players will be suspended for at least the first five games of the upcoming season and serve community service.

"I'd like to apologize on behalf of our school and Muscogee County that this incident happened," McGee told the Banner-Herald. "It's not really reflective of what we encompass as a school and I'm definitely embarrassed by the situation."

A Georgia spokesman declined to comment.

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