Deion Bonner, expected to rank among the top cornerback prospects in the 2012 signing class, was arrested Monday on misdemeanor theft charges in relation to items taken from University of Georgia football players April 7 at the Butts-Mehre athletic complex.
Bonner, 18, is a junior at Carver High in Columbus and was arrested along with 17-year-old Carver running back Marquise Hawkins, who is being charged as an adult, and an unnamed 16-year-old teammate. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Monday that all three players have been suspended from Carver's team and will face a minimum suspension of five games this season.
Georgia hosted an open house April 7 for "faculty appreciation day" when iPhones, iPods and shoes valued at nearly $2,000 were swiped from the locker room. University police chief Jimmy Williamson said Monday that the iPods have been recovered but not the iPhones.
Offensive guard Kenarious Gates, defensive end Abry Jones and safety Shawn Williams were among the seven Bulldogs who had items taken.
Bonner is among Rivals.com's top 250 players nationally and received early scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, South Carolina and Southern Cal. Former Georgia tailback Jasper Sanks played at Carver, as did current Bulldogs outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and touted incoming tailback Isaiah Crowell.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.