“Their mugshots were not immediately available.”

If it’s spring break, it must be jail time.

Four University of Georgia football players were arrested Monday night and charged with misdemeanor theft by deception, according to Athens-Clarke County jail records

Within two hours, all four players were released on bond, booking records show. Details regarding what led to the arrests were not available late Monday. But UGA police Chief Jimmy Williamson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the alleged thefts involved the university’s athletic department.

Uriay LeMay, a wide receiver, was charged with four counts of theft by deception. His bond was set at $6,000, jail records show. Tray Matthews, a safety, was charged with three counts of theft by deception. His bond was set at $4,500.

Jonathan Taylor and James DeLoach, defensive linemen, were each charged with two counts of theft by deception. Bonds for both Taylor and DeLoach were set at $3,000.

There’s a part of me that won’t be surprised in the least if this turns out to be something really stupid in nature.  But there’s another part of me that’s pissed off because nobody seems to learn that stupid behavior has consequences, despite all the recent examples.

Mudcat’s car rides again.

*************************************************************************

UPDATE:  In case you were wondering…

“Theft by deception” is explained thusly by the Georgia Code of Law:

(a) A person commits the offense of theft by deception when he obtains property by any deceitful means or artful practice with the intention of depriving the owner of the property.

(b) A person deceives if he intentionally:

– (1) Creates or confirms another’s impression of an existing fact or past event which is false and which the accused knows or believes to be false;

– (2) Fails to correct a false impression of an existing fact or past event which he has previously created or confirmed;

– (3) Prevents another from acquiring information pertinent to the disposition of the property involved;

– (4) Sells or otherwise transfers or encumbers property intentionally failing to disclose a substantial and valid known lien, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to the enjoyment of the property, whether such impediment is or is not a matter of official record; or

– (5) Promises performance of services which he does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed. Evidence of failure to perform standing alone shall not be sufficient to authorize a conviction under this subsection.

*************************************************************************

UPDATE #2:  Seth Emerson has the gory details.

The players are charged with what amounts to double-dipping: Each allegedly took normal stipend checks from UGA and deposited them via a mobile ap, and then also cashed them somewhere else, according to UGA chief of police Jimmy Williamson.

The UGA athletics department detected the checks clearing twice and contacted the UGA police, Williamson said.

Can you say fucking morons?  I thought you could.  Of course you’re going to get caught doing this and of course the athletic department is going to report it, if for no other reason than it has to assume you’re not a bunch of fucking morons and that somebody else stole your checks.

Jesus.  Maybe we shouldn’t blame Grantham entirely for last season’s communication difficulties, unless it’s his fault he didn’t realize how much he needed to dumb things down for some of his audience.

*************************************************************************

UPDATE #3:  There are days when I wonder if Richt thinks it’s even worth getting out of bed.

Value of checks cashed in arrest of four UGA football players: $71.50 each. Total loss: $786.50.

— Marc Weiszer (@marcweiszer) March 18, 2014

*************************************************************************

UPDATE #4:  And I didn’t think I could laugh about this yet.