Georgia Football Player Arrested On Serious Family Violence Charges As Bulldogs' Off-Field Problems Pile Up

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Georgia football player Rara Thomas was taken into police custody early Friday morning on multiple charges.

The Bulldogs receiver was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail at 3:30 am local time on charges of felony cruelty to children and misdemeanor battery with a family violence distinction on all charges.

The likely Georgia starter for the 2024 season remains in police custody as of publication, and there's no bond information at this time. No further details about the arrest are public.

You can read the jail record in the photo below.

Georgia football player RaRa Thomas arrested on multiple charges. 

This isn't the first time Thomas - real first name Rodarius - has been arrested over an alleged domestic incident. He was charged with felony false imprisonment and domestic family violence in 2023 after an arrest in a dorm room, but the case was dismissed after a deal was reached involving a pretrial diversion for a misdemeanor-level offense of family-violence battery, according to CBS Sports.

Now, he's back in police custody facing very serious criminal charges, including a felony cruelty to children charge.

Thomas' arrest is also the latest embarrassing moment for the Bulldogs. Kirby Smart's program has a laundry list of off-the-field legal problems.

Most of the problems revolve around driving issues, including two players arrested this month in separate incidents. Trevor Etienne was also arrested in March after allegedly driving under the influence.

The program has a total of 19 driving incidents since offensive lineman Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in a racing accident involving Jalen Carter, according to Sports Illustrated.

This situation doesn't have anything to do with vehicles, and it's most certainly a lot more serious than a reckless driving charge. The situation remains developing. Make sure to check back for updates as we have them, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

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David Hookstead is a reporter for OutKick covering a variety of topics with a focus on football and culture. He also hosts of the podcast American Joyride that is accessible on Outkick where he interviews American heroes and outlines their unique stories. Before joining OutKick, Hookstead worked for the Daily Caller for seven years covering similar topics. Hookstead is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.