ATHENS, Ga. — The charges of reckless driving and racing have been dropped against a University of Georgia football player who was arrested in July, according to his lawyer.
11Alive previously reported how senior linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. was arrested on July 10. His attorney, Billy Healan, said that Mondon's racing charge was dismissed, and the reckless driving charge was reduced to a non-reportable traffic offense called too fast for conditions.
He entered a guilty plea for too fast for conditions and paid a $500 fine. He was also required to go to defensive driving school and a victim impact panel, which he already completed.
A police report from the incident indicated that an officer saw two vehicles side by side accelerate at a high rate of speed and race each other near West Broad Street near The Plaza. The officer then got behind one of the cars, which slowed down while the other continued to speed.
According to the report, the speed limit was 40 mph, and Mondon's vehicle, a 2022 Dodge Charger, was allegedly going 75 mph. The officer then pulled him over. Mondon denied he was racing and stated he did not know the driver of the other vehicle, despite the police report saying Mondon leaned over to his teammate and said, "Do not say anything in the group chat."
Healan said that Mondon was not racing anyone and was not driving recklessly. He said they admit to Mondon accelerating too quickly, which is the basis for driving too fast for conditions.
"Smael is a hard-working young man that has never even had a traffic ticket prior to this incident," Healan said in a statement to 11Alive. "He is glad to put this incident behind him so he can focus on school and football. He will graduate at the end of this semester."