The Red and Black

Issue date: 7/1/08 Section: News

Lemon [Click to enlarge]

Police incident report

Georgia football player Michael Lemon has been charged with a felony in an alcohol-related battery incident Saturday night that sent a University student to the hospital with a severe eye injury, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

Warrants have been issued charging Lemon with misdemeanor battery and felony aggravated battery. If found guilty, Lemon could face 20 years in jail.

The report first obtained by The Red & Black states Lemon, a sophomore defensive end from Lizella, allegedly punched student DeMarius Jackson "about five times before someone pulled him off."

Jackson was taken to St. Mary's Hospital and treated for a blowout fracture to the eye. He was released early Sunday. According to medical Web sites, a blowout fracture occurs when the eye suffers significant blunt force trauma, typically from being hit by a baseball bat or getting kicked in the face.

As of Wednesday evening, Lemon has not been arrested.

This is the third police incident involving a Georgia football player since May and the fifth during the offseason.

The incident happened Saturday during a barbecue in the pool area at The Exchange apartment complex, according to the report.

The report states Jackson was grilling food when Lemon approached him. Lemon allegedly inquired why Jackson was "talking to his girl."

Jackson told Lemon "he didn't know what he was talking about" but Lemon continued to question him, the report says.

Witnesses, who spoke to The Red & Black, said they saw Lemon turn as if walking away, but then turned back and headed toward Jackson.

"Mr. Lemon then punched Mr. Jackson several times which knocked Mr. Jackson down," the report says. Witnesses told The Red & Black the echo from the punch could be heard from the other side of the pool.

Lemon, who is 6-foot-4, 274 pounds, "punched Mr. Jackson five times before someone pulled Mr. Lemon off. Several of the witnesses advised that several of Mr. Lemon's friends 'huddled' around Mr. Lemon as he was punching Mr. Jackson," the report states.

The report says Lemon and his friends left the area, while Jackson called 911 from a friend's apartment.

"Mr. Jackson's left eye was noticeably swollen and he also had a bump on his forehead from where Mr. Lemon hit him," the report says. Jackson told police his vision was blurry in his left eye. "It appeared as though Mr. Jackson also had a concussion from the altercation."

Efforts to reach Lemon Monday afternoon were unsuccessful. Associate Athletic Director Claude Felton, who is in charge of the Sports Communications Office, was not in the office Monday afternoon.

In early June, defensive end Jeremy Lomax was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and speeding. In May, offensive lineman Clint Boling was arrested and charged with DUI in his hometown of Alpharetta.

Fellow teammates fullback Fred Munzenmaier and defensive back Donavon Baldwin will miss games at the beginning of next season due to arrests earlier in the year. Baldwin will miss the first game and Munzenmaier will miss the first two. Munzenmaier was arrested in January and charged with underage consumption of alcohol and pedestrian walking on the road. Baldwin was arrested by University Police in January and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and improper driving.

Lemon was in the news last year following the murder of his mother. Phaba Lemon, 39, was found dead in February 2007 after her mobile home was set on fire. Her boyfriend was charged with murder and arson. Last year the Athletic Association got NCAA approval to set up "The Lemon Support Fund," to help Lemon and his brother after their mother's death. Almost $70,000 was raised from almost 350 different donors.

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