Georgia sees 3rd player arrested since team made college playoff
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) A Georgia freshman is facing a felony forgery charge over allegations of passing a counterfeit $100 bill last summer, the third player to be arrested since the Bulldogs won the Southeastern Conference championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Defensive back Latavious Brini was taken into custody Tuesday evening by the Clarke County sheriff's office. He was released about three hours later on $5,700 bond, jail records show.
Media outlets reported that Brini's arrest stems from a July incident in which the counterfeit bill was used to make an $8 purchase at a pet supplies store, with the suspect receiving $92 cash in return. Police said the store realized later at a bank drop that the $100 bill was fake.
Officers were called when Brini returned to the store about a week later, leading to the investigation that eventually resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest. A police report said Brini also gave a different name during his initial visit to the store when setting up a rewards card.
Brini, a Florida native, has not played this season and was likely to take a redshirt. School policy calls for an immediate suspension from competition for a felony arrest, pending a review by an athletic department committee.
A Georgia spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Starting inside linebacker Natrez Patrick and receiver Jayson Stanley were arrested hours after Georgia defeated Auburn 28-7 in the Dec. 2 SEC championship game in Atlanta. Patrick was charged with possession of marijuana of less than an ounce, which could lead to his dismissal from the team since he has been arrested twice previously on marijuana charges.
Coach Kirby Smart has not said whether Patrick will be kicked off the team.
''We still don't have all the information completely in,'' the coach said more than a week ago, his only comments on the arrests.
Stanley, who was charged with DUI drugs, possession of marijuana of less than an ounce and speeding, faces a two-game suspension.
No. 3 Georgia (12-1), which won its first SEC title since 2005, meets No. 2 Oklahoma in a national semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. The winner of that game advances to the national championship game in Atlanta the following week.
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