Lawyer releases statement in defense of Jalen Carter after no-contest plea

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has entered a plea of no contest for misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and street racing, DawgsHQ has confirmed. The news was first reported by Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

In entering that plea, a deal has been reached between the Athens-Clarke County solicitor general and Carter that he will serve one year of probation, 80 hours of community service, and pay a fine of $1,000. He does not face any jail time.

Carter’s lawyer, Kim Stephens, released a statement on his client’s behalf once the dust settled on Thursday.

“First, Jalen Carter’s actions on Januay 15, 2023, did not cause the tragic accident involving Chandler LeCroy, Devin Willock, Victoria Bowles and Warren McClendon. If the investigation had determined otherwise, Mr. Carter would have been charged with far more serious offenses of vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle under Georgia law, both felony offenses, and would have faced a lengthy prison sentence.

“Second, Mr. Carter never left the scene of the accident without being told that he could leave. He stopped his car immediately after the accident occurred and ran toward the wrecked vehicle while his passenger called 911. Even after being informed that he could leave, Mr. Carter returned to the scene at the request of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department to answer additional questions and continued to cooperate throughout the investigation.

“Finally, Jalen Carter had no been drinking alcohol and was not under the influence of alcohol or any other illegal substance at the time of the wreck. If there had been any suspicion that Mr. Carter had consumed alcohol or used an illegal substance when Athens-Clarke County police officers and investigators spoke to him at the scene, following the accident, they would have arrested him for DUI.”

Details of the crash

LeCroy was operating a vehicle leased by the school for recruiting purposes when it crashed in the early morning hours of January 15. Smart told reporters on Tuesday that it a hard-and-fast rule was broken there. She was not involved in a work-related activity and should not have been using it.

Police issued a warrant for the arrest Carter earlier this month for his charges. The warrant also revealed more details of the accident. LeCroy was, in fact, intoxicated while operating the vehicle. Her blood alcohol level, as determined by a blood test, was .197. That’s almost two and a half times the legal limit.

The Ford Expedition that LeCroy was operating was traveling 104 miles per hour just before the crash and the case is being submitted to the Athens-Clarke County solicitor general.

“As a result of the ongoing investigation into the January 15, 2023, fatal car crash that occurred in the 900 block of Barnett Shoals Road, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department has secured arrest warrants for Jalen Carter, 21, for Reckless Driving and Racing.

“The investigation found that Chandler LeCroy, driver of the 2021 Ford Expedition, and Jalen Carter, driver of a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area at about 2:30 AM. 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. Evidence indicated that shortly before the crash the Expedition was traveling at about 104 miles per hour. The toxicology report indicated that LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was .197 art the time of the crash. Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving and speed were significant contributing factors in the crash.

“The case will be given to the Solicitor General’s Office.”