In his senior year at Mt. Pleasant, quarterback Princeton Harlan was being recruited by a plethora of universities, including Vanderbilt, Auburn, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Tennessee and South Carolina. Indeed, a bright future for Harlan until Wednesday when the 18-year-old was charged with the rape of a child. According to Anthony Bailey, a Maury County Sheriff's Department detective, the alleged victim was a fellow student who happened to be only 12 years old.
Regardless of whether or not the intercourse was consensual, "rape of a child is different than rape," Bailey said. "There's no forced intercourse involved. Rape of a child is anybody under the age of 13 cannot consent to sex. It doesn't matter if it's forced or not forced." Harlan was eventually released from jail on a $100,000 bond, but as a first-time offender, he still faces up to 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
So far this season, Harlan amassed 1,565 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, as well as 581 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns.
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[via USA Today]
