Smart lays out plans for Ledbetter following Sunday arrest
HOOVER, Ala. - Head coach Kirby Smart said sophomore defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter will be subject not only to internal discipline, but also undergo intensified education, counseling, and medical assistance program following his DUI arrest Sunday morning.
“Certainly we are disappointed and recognize he has a serious problem,” said Smart said in a statement. “We have provided help for him previously and we are committed to providing whatever assistance is necessary for Jonathan that will contribute to immediate improvement but also ensure that his long-term well-being is secure.”
Ledbetter also released a statement in the same email from the UGA athletic department.
“First I want to apologize to my family, my teammates and coaches, the University and the Bulldog Nation,” said Ledbetter. “I have a problem and have received an incredible amount of support and treatment through the Athletic Department for the problem. For that I am thankful. I ask for everyone’s support as I continue to receive additional treatment for this disease and work toward a healthy life.”
Sunday morning, Ledbetter was arrested by Athens Clarke County police for misdemeanor charges of DUI and underage possession of alcohol, according to the county’s online jail report.
He was booked at 6:05 a.m. before being released later that morning
Bond was set at $1,500 for the DUI charge, $500 for the charge of underage possession.
Last March, Ledbetter was arrested for underage possession and having a fake ID.
Those charges were later dropped.
According to the police report released Monday morning, Ledbetter was found asleep in his car Sunday morning at the intersection of Lexington Road and Barnett Shoals.
Two subsequent breath alcohol level tests registered at .138 and .131.
The report said it took officers 30 minutes to wake him.
Following a field sobriety the report stated that "(Ledbetter) proceede to explain that he knows what's going on in the world now with cops shooting black people and he also said that he wanted to know if he passed the test or not so he could take his boys home. There was no one in the car except Mr. Ledbetter when I arrived at the scene. He also explained that he feels like this is a hate crime. I asked Mr. Ledbetter again if he would be willing to submit to a breath test and he said, "I will submit to any test that you want me to do.' He expressed that he played football for UGA and that he does not want to get into any more trouble because he is going to get kicked off the team and that he needs to provide for his mother and family."
Georgia has yet to comment on the arrest but head coach Kirby Smart will address the media Tuesday during SEC Media Days in Hoover.