Could Jalen Carter face more serious charges in UGA crash? A lawyer says yes

ATHENS, Ga. — A star University of Georgia football players is facing misdemeanor racing and reckless driving charges after a crash that killed one of his teammates and a recruiting staffer.

The staffer, Chandler LeCroy, was driving a rented UGA SUV on the night of Jan. 15 when the vehicle crashed, killing LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock.

Police originally said the crash only involved the SUV LeCroy was driving.

Months later, on March 1, police revealed that Jalen Carter, the projected top pick in this year’s NFL draft, was wanted on charges connected to the crash.

Police now say Carter and LeCroy were racing and driving at extreme speeds when Chandler’s car crashed on Barnett Shoals road, not far from downtown Athens.

Carter turned himself in Wednesday night on the misdemeanor charges. But could he face more serous consequences?

Defense Attorney Jackie Patterson, a former judge and prosecutor, told Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln that he thinks Carter’s status with the football team determined the outcome of the initial charges, and that they could be upgraded.

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“Although he’s charged with a misdemeanor. Now, once it gets over to the solicitor’s office or to the district attorney’s office, it can be upgraded to a felony,” Patterson said. “And it is no doubt that if he was not a University of Georgia football player, he probably would be charged with felony vehicular homicide.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

• Report reveals excessive speed a factor in crash that killed UGA football player, team staffer
• UGA player who declared for 2023 NFL draft injured in crash that killed teammate, staffer
• UGA football player, recruiting staff member killed in car crash

If the misdemeanor charges from the January crash stick, Carter could face 12 months of probation, but if they are upgraded to vehicular homicide, he could face 15 years in prison.

According to surveillance video captured five minutes before the crash, you see LeCroy in a black Ford Expedition and Carter in a Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk stopped at a red light before they speed away.

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“The evidence demonstrated that both vehicles switched between lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes of travel, overtook other motorists, and drove at high rates of speed, in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other,” police said.

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Athens police said initially, Carter gave officers false statements regarding his whereabouts at the time of the crash.

“They could do a charge of what’s called obstruction of a law enforcement officer by lying to the police,” Patterson said.

This is not the first time Carter faced legal trouble with traffic violations.

According to court documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Carter had been cited three times for traffic violations in Athens during the fall semester. Those citations include speeding, parking in a handicapped zone, and excessive tinted windows.

UGA star charged in deadly crash turns himself in, released shortly after, records show

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