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Four days after cruelty to children arrest, Georgia football's Rara Thomas released on bond

Georgia football wide receiver Rara Thomas was released from the Clarke County Jail Tuesday on bonds totaling $3,500.

Thomas was incarcerated for four days since being booked early Friday morning after a domestic violence incident and released at 12:21 p.m. Tuesday.

The senior was charged with second degree felony cruelty to children and two counts of misdemeanor family/violence battery.

Georgia suspended him from the team indefinitely Friday, according to a team source.

"I am pleased that bond could be set and Mr. Thomas released while we fully investigate the case," his attorney, Kim Stephens, said in a message to the Athens Banner-Herald. "We expect that this matter can be resolved swiftly and fairly once all facts are known."

The Bulldogs open preseason practices on Thursday.

Athens-Clarke County police said an incident report is not pursuant to release “due to the nature of the investigation involving a juvenile victim.” Police said the incident involved Thomas’ child. Police responded at about 1:34 a.m. last Frirday to the 300 block of Mill Creek Way regarding a domestic violence call.

The bond hearing was held remotely because the Athens-Clarke County courthouse was still closed Tuesday due to bedbugs.

Thomas, a transfer from Mississippi State, entered a pretrial diversion program last year for a charge of  battery/family violence while a felony charge of false imprisonment was dismissed. Those charges came after a Jan. 23, 2023, arrest for an incident with a female in a UGA dorm.

The battery charge was for bruising the alleged victim’s bicep and causing abrasions to her shin.

Thomas completed the pretrial diversion program, according to a court record from March 7.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football receiver Rara Thomas released from jail on bond