Former West Virginia running back Justin Crawford will spend the next 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child molestation and sodomy in his hometown of Columbus, Ga.
Crawford pleaded guilty in his Tuesday appearance at the Muscogee County Superior Court, as reported by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
The sentence calls for 20 years, with the final eight to be on probation. Crawford will also have to register as a sex offender at the end of his sentence and stay away from all children under 18, including his own three children. The prosecution dropped three additional felony charges as a result of Crawford’s guilty plea.
Crawford was arrested on Oct. 13 of last year after admitting to having sex with a 12-year-old girl who was sleeping on the couch at his home. Crawford’s justification for his actions when speaking to police was that it was “the girl’s idea.” The child told police that Crawford woke her up and asked for oral sex before engaging in intercourse.
Crawford played for West Virginia from 2016-17 after transferring from Northwest Mississippi Community College. He rushed for 2,237 yards and 11 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Mountaineers. Despite only having two years in the program, his rushing total ranks 11th in West Virginia history.
Crawford’s 331-yard game against Oklahoma in 2016 is the third-best rushing performance in WVU history.
Crawford signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent, but was cut just days before the start of the 2018 regular season.