Georgia back Isaiah Crowell charged with gun possession in school zone

Athens, GA, United States (4E Sports) – Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell was charged Friday with two counts of felonies and a misdemeanor after he was arrested in possession of a weapon in a school zone.

According to a booking report from the Athens-Clarke County Jail, Crowell, 19, was charged with a felony count of allegedly possessing a weapon in a school zone, a felony count of altered identification mark and misdemeanor count of possession/carrying a concealed weapon.

The Athens-Clarke County police arrested Crowell after being stopped at a vehicle checkpoint near the Georgia campus. He was released from Athens-Clarke County Jail after posting a $9,500 bond.

Under UGA Athletic Association policy, student-athletes charged with felonies are immediately suspended from the team.

Authorities said 9mm Luger with a scratched serial number was found under the driver’s seat but Crowell denied knowing a gun was there, saying other people drive his car. Police said the altered ID-mark charge stems from the tampered serial number.

Crowell could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail sentence between two and 10 years if found guilty of weapons possession on school property, while a guilty verdict for criminal use of an article with an altered ID mark carries a sentence between one and five years.

Teammates Blake Tibbs, Quintavius Harrow, Josh Harvey-Clemons and Sheldon Dawson were passengers in the car when it was stopped at a checkpoint after they left a club called Aftermath.

The arresting officer said she also smelled marijuana inside the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis that Crowell was driving.

“During the search of the vehicle, officers found a gun under the driver’s seat. After discovering that the ID number had been altered on the gun, Mr. Crowell was arrested and charged. Marijuana was never found inside the car,” Athens-Clarke County Police spokeswoman Hilda Sorrow said.

Crowell was ranked as the country’s No. 1 running back and No. 4 prospect overall by ESPN Recruiting in 2011 but had a rocky first season with the Bulldogs.

He ran 185 times for 850 yards with five touchdowns as a freshman but was dogged by disciplinary problems in the past. He was benched Oct. 15 for disciplinary reasons and was suspended by the Bulldogs for one game against New Mexico State.

Crowell was hampered by an ankle injury late in the season and ran only 15 times for 31 yards in the Bulldogs’ last four games.

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