An Alabama football player was arrested after knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease, authorities said.
Crimson Tide offensive lineman Elijah Pritchett, 19, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with a class C misdemeanor and will be tried as a juvenile offender.
A spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa Police Department confirmed that a report was filed against Pritchett last week, leading to his arrest. Tuscaloosa Wire reported.
Pritchett was later released on a $500 bond and it is unclear exactly which STD he allegedly passed on to someone else. Few details have been revealed due to the nature of the charges and legal protections.
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban has not yet released a statement on the incident.
Crimson Tide offensive lineman Elijah Pritchett, 19, after allegedly knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease after a report was filed last week
Pritchett, 19, was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with a class C misdemeanor and will be tried as a juvenile offender
Nick Saban, the head coach of the football team and the University of Alabama have not yet released a statement on the incident
In the state of Alabama, there is a specific penalty known as AL Code § 22-11A-21, which states: “Any person afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease who knowingly transmits the disease, or assumes the risk thereof, or performs any act likely or likely to transmit such disease to another person is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.”
Pritchett faces a possible prison sentence of up to three months and a fine for the charge. He was also given youthful offender status, which means those between the ages of 18 and 21 cannot be tried in court as adults.
He was granted status as a Tuscaloosa judge and can now receive a lighter sentence and waive his right to a jury trial. There will also be no criminal conviction and the case files will be closed to the public.
He was released on bail just days before the Crimson Tide were set to head to the College Football Playoff semifinals in California, also known as the Rose Bowl Game.
The game will take place on January 1 between the University of Alabama and the University of Michigan.
Pritchett faces a possible prison sentence of three months and a fine for the charge. He was also given youthful offender status, which means those between the ages of 18 and 21 cannot be tried in court as adults
He was released on bail just days before the Crimson Tide were set to head to the College Football Playoff semifinals in California, also known as the Rose Bowl Game.
According to AL.comPritchett was previously stopped for driving 155 km/h in a 105 km/h zone. He told the officer he knew he was speeding and pleaded guilty.
A month later, he was ordered to take a four-hour defensive driving course, complete 10 hours of community service and pay $197 in court costs.
His case was later dismissed on September 5 and the university did not publicly discipline Pritchett.
He arrived at the school in 2022 and played a total of 13 games for the Crimson Tide this season.
Bama Central reported that he planned to enter the transfer portal, but in a statement released Saturday, he announced that a transfer “was not in his best interest” and that he would remain on the Alabama team.
He is ranked as the fourth-ranked offensive tackle in his class and the 34th-ranked player internationally.
It is unclear if Pritchett's new charge will impact the team in the upcoming semifinal or if he will play.
Since the founding of Alabama's Crimson Tide in 1892, the team has played in 75 Rose Bowl games.
Nick Saban was hired as head coach in 2007 and led the college team to 15 Rose Bowl games in his 12 seasons at Alabama.
Earlier this month, the Crimson Tide won the SEC after completing a nail-biting victory over No. 1 Georgia in Atlanta, ending the Bulldogs' hopes for three straight national championships.
Pritchett is ranked as the fourth-ranked offensive tackle in his class and the 34th-ranked player internationally
The Crimson Tide has won a total of 30 conference championships in program history
Alabama won the SEC after pulling off a nail-biting win over No. 1 ranked Georgia in Atlanta on Dec. 2
Kirby Smart's squad was the No. 1-ranked team in the country after riding a 29-game winning streak heading into Saturday's SEC Championship Game.
But the Crimson Tide came from behind to secure a 27-24 win, with quarterback Jalen Milroe leading Alabama to victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It was Georgia's first loss since the 2021 SEC Championship game, when the Bulldogs were defeated again by Alabama.
The victory gave Nick Saban's team its third SEC title in four years – and its eighth championship since 2012.
