Georgia football linebacker Adam Anderson faces felony rape charge. Here's what we know
Georgia football linebacker Adam Anderson is facing a felony rape charge for an early morning incident in Athens on Oct. 29.
Anderson voluntarily surrendered Nov. 17, 2021, to the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, according to his attorney Steve Sadow. He was booked into the Clarke County Jail at 7:45 p.m., according to the online booking report. He was being held without bond.
Here is what we know:
Initial reporting: Georgia football LB Adam Anderson booked on felony rape charge
Anderson in court: Second sexual assault allegation surfaces during Georgia football LB Adam Anderson's bond hearing
What's next: Bond hearing set for Georgia football LB Adam Anderson who is facing felony rape charge
Who is Georgia LB Adam Anderson?
A senior from Rome, Georgia, Anderson leads the Bulldogs in sacks with 5 and is fifth on the team with 32 tackles. He had 6.5 sacks last season.
He is considered to be a possible first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft with USA Today including him in a recent mock draft as the No. 29 overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys.
What are the charges?
Anderson is alleged to have penetrated the 21-year old victim “forcibly and against her will,” according to the warrant issued for Anderson’s arrest that was signed by Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Judge Donarell Green that was obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald Thursday.
The incident is alleged to have occurred between 5 and 6 a.m. on Oct. 29, according to the warrant. The alleged victim told police she had drinks and went to the residence and she awoke to Anderson penetrating her, according to the police incident report dated Oct. 29.
During his bond hearing on Wednesday, another allegation against Anderson surfaced. The alleged incident occurred in October 2020 at Anderson’s apartment at Athens Ridge, a complex in Oconee County, said Sgt. Shannon Parker of the Athens-Clarke County Police Special Victims Unit.
Athens police were contacted about the 2020 allegation by The Cottage, a local sexual assault advocacy center, when another alleged victim came forward after Anderson was alleged to have raped the victim that led to the felony rape charge on Oct. 29 of this year. Parker said he interviewed the female who said Anderson sexually assaulted her in 2020 and since the incident occurred outside of Clarke County, he passed it along to Oconee County police who are investigating the incident.
What's next for Anderson?
Chief Superior Court Judge Eric W. Norris granted Anderson $25,000 bond. Anderson will be allowed to continue fall semester classes at the University of Georgia and then will have to relocate to his hometown of Rome. He will be barred then from being in the Athens area except for legal matters.
Anderson posted the bond and was released, his attorney Steve Sadow said Wednesday night.
What has been the UGA football response to the charge against Anderson?
At least eight Georgia teammates attended Anderson's bond hearing on Wednesday, including Justin Shaffer, Kearis Jackson, Jordan Davis, Jermaine Burton, Channing Tindall, James Cook and the father of Georgia punter Jake Camarda. The players introduced themselves with a microphone and said they were there to support his release on bond.
Fellow linebacker Nolan Smith told the judge that Anderson “is not a flight risk at all. He does the right thing.”
Bryant Gantt, Georgia's director of player support and operations, took the stand and testified that he's known Anderson since he was a high school recruit and "has a great character," and there hadn't been "any major issues," with him and he had not heard of him mistreating or being violent towards women.
If you are a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, The Cottage in Athens has a 24/7 hotline 1-877-363-1912 and can provide assistance. Additionally, UGA has resources listed here: https://www.police.uga.edu/campus-safety/emergencies/report-emergencies/2087-reporting-crime-of-sexual-nature. If you are in immediate danger or would like to report directly to police, call 911.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Adam Anderson UGA LB arrested, faces felony rape charge: What we know
