Georgia football star Jalen Carter pleads no contest in fatal crash

Georgia football star Jalen Carter pleaded no contest to charges stemming from a fatal crash that occurred in October 2020. Carter, who was driving a pickup truck, allegedly ran a red light at a busy intersection and collided with a sedan, killing one of the sedan’s occupants.

The 20-year-old Carter, a defensive lineman for the University of Georgia’s football team, entered his plea in Clarke County Superior Court on Wednesday. He admitted no guilt but conceded that sufficient evidence existed to convict him at trial.

Carter faced vehicular homicide and other charges after the crash in the Athens area. The victim, 81-year-old Jack Holmes, was a passenger in the sedan.

The plea agreement Carter reached with prosecutors included a 30-day prison sentence, to be served in the Clarke County Jail, and 120 hours of community service. He also must pay a $1,000 fine.

The court will impose a five-year probation period during which Carter must abide by certain restrictions. Among these stipulations are that he must not drive with any alcohol or drugs in his system, must not violate any laws, must attend a defensive driving course, and must not drive without a valid license.

Carter was suspended from the University of Georgia football team shortly after the crash. He is not expected to return to the team.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Carter expressed his “deepest condolences” to the family of the deceased and apologized for his actions.

At a hearing Wednesday, Carter’s attorney asked the court to consider Carter’s “remarkable record as a student and a citizen” in deciding the outcome of the case. The judge acknowledged that Carter had no prior criminal history and had shown remorse in the aftermath of the crash.

Carter’s plea of no contest and the sentence imposed by the court brought to a close a tragedy that had a profound impact on multiple lives.