Former Atlanta Falcons player Justin Crawford, 23, has been charged with molesting a 12-year-old girl. Before Crawford’s hideous crime, he made a name for himself as a football player.
Here are five things to know about Crawford.
Tragedy at an early
Crawford dealt with tragedy at an early age. While growing up in Columbus, Georgia, Crawford lost his father when he was 14. His father, Homer Roberts, drowned near Tybee Island close to Savannah, Ga., trying to save a 12-year-old kid.
Crawford became a star in high school and college
Crawford became a star in high school at Hardaway High in Columbus, Georgia after rushing for 825 yards as a junior season. However, he only got scholarship offers from Boston College and Louisville University. He eventually attended Northwest Mississippi Community College where he rushed for 3,161 yards and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons. Before leaving junior college, Crawford married his wife, Chakeya Crawford. They have two children, Justin Jr., and Jaydense Crawford.
Stardom at West Virginia University
Crawford transferred to West Virginia University in 2016 where he rushed for 2,244 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons. He made national headlines during his first season when he rushed for 331 yards in a game against the Oklahoma Sooners.
NFL Dreams stopped short
Crawford was signed as an undrafted free-agent by the Atlanta Falcons on May 1, 2018. However, he was waived on September 1, 2018.
The unthinkable crime
On Oct. 13, 2018, Chakeya Crawford found Justin Crawford standing over a 12-year-old girl with an erection. Justin ran away to cover himself and Chakeya decided to go back to sleep. Justin initially told Chakeya that he did not have sex with the girl. But when Chakeya took the girl home, the girl told her that Justin woke her up in the middle of the night and made her perform oral sex on him. The two also had sex. Justin was questioned by police for the crime and initially denied having sex with the girl. However, he later admitted to the crime and said it was the girl’s idea. He is now facing felony charges of incest, sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purpose
