Two Georgia linemen arrested; third suspect in beating

ATHENS, Ga. — Two Georgia football players have been arrested and jailed on charges of simple battery. Meanwhile, another Georgia player may face charges after allegedly punching a fellow student in a separate incident that occurred Saturday night.

The Athens-Clarke County Jail report shows offensive linemen Justin Anderson and Trinton Sturdivant were both released within hours of their arrest on Monday night on $1,500 bonds.

Sturdivant, 19, is a starting tackle from Wadesboro, N.C. Anderson, 20, is a guard from Ocilla, Ga.

The incident allegedly occurred early Friday morning at the East Campus Village dormitory on the university’s campus.

The woman who made the complaint said she and a friend were returning to the dorm about 1:30 a.m. when they encountered Anderson, Sturdivant and another unidentified male. The woman, who told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution she is six months pregnant, said they touched her without permission and began following her.

Affidavits filed with the Athens Clarke County Court stated the players “did intentionally make physical contact of an insulting nature with (the alleged victim).”

Ed Tolley, an Athens lawyer who is representing the players, said the charges are unfounded.

“The only thing I can tell you is I’ve talked with both boys and they absolutely deny they did anything of an offensive nature,” Tolley said. “They’re completely shocked that this allegation has been made.”

In the Saturday night incident, Demarius Jackson claims that redshirt freshman sophomore defensive end Michael Lemon of Lizella, Ga., punched him at least five times — including one that resulted in a fracture of his left eye socket — in an altercation that occurred at a barbecue at an apartment complex. Jackson was taken to a hospital and released about eight hours later. Lemon left the scene.

If Lemon is indeed arrested, that would make him the seventh Georgia football player to be charged with a crime since the end of last season.