Georgia WR Colbie Young pleads not guilty to battery charges, trial date set

ATHENS, Ga. — The arraignment for Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young was held Tuesday at the Athens-Clarke County Court House, and his misdemeanor charges of battery and assault on an unborn child were not dropped. Attorney Kim T. Stephens, alongside Young, entered a not guilty plea with Judge Ryan Hope, and a trial date was set in May with Judge Charles A. Auslander with hopes for it to be moved to January 6, 2025.

Young, who was arrested on the morning of October 8th after an altercation at his apartment with an ex-girlfriend, has missed the last eight games for Georgia being indefinitely suspended by the program. After an investigation from UGA’s Equal Opportunity Office cleared him to do so, Young has been able to practice with the team for the last two weeks and has had access to Georgia’s resources including the student-athlete academic center, the training and weight rooms and mental health counseling during the entirety of his suspension. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart confirmed his participation in practice but stated that with the legal matter still ongoing, Young’s competition status would not change.

About the Arrest

According to the police report, the alleged victim wanted to “speak with (Young) about the status of their relationship” before the conversation “turned into a heated argument.” The victim told police that Young “grabbed her left arm near her bicep and tricep and physically pulled her out of his room.” She added that Young was “using derogatory terms and being demeaning of her” before going back into his bedroom, shutting the door and locking it. Upon her gathering her things and answering a phone call from a friend, the victim stated that Young emerged from his room and “grabbed her from behind.” She said he picked her up and began to squeeze her torso and abdomen very hard. The victim told police she “felt Mr. Young was trying to harm her.”

Police inspection of the victim noticed bruising and discoloration on the bottom side of her chest where it meets the abdomen and redness on her right flank. After interviewing Young, the responding officer found probably cause to place him under arrest.

Less than a month after the incident Young’s lawyer and the alleged victim did call for the receiver to be reinstated after the victim recanted her statement and asked for the Athens-Clarke County Police to drop the charges against Young.

“Colbie did not place his hands on me in any way during the conversation and the argument that was inappropriate or unwanted,” the alleged victim stated in an affidavit. “He did not hit me. He did not push me. He did not cause any bruising or marks on me. He did not injure me in any way. To be clear, Colbie Young did not commit any acts of violence toward me or my unborn child, including but not limited to simple battery, battery, or assault on an unborn child.”

Young, a Miami transfer who appeared in Georgia’s first five games of the season totaling 11 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Prior to his career in Athens, Young spent two seasons at Miami (Fla.) after playing one season at Lackawanna College in New York. He totaled 79 receptions for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns in 22 games for the Hurricanes, finishing third on the team in receptions (47) and receiving yards (563) as well as tied for second in receiving touchdowns (5) in 2023.

Georgia takes on the winner of Notre Dame and Indiana in the Allstate Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals on January 1st in New Orleans.

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