Savannah's Javonte Middleton of The Citadel charged with third-degree domestic violence

Savannah Morning News - 8/30/2021

Aug. 30—Javonte Middleton of Savannah, a former star student-athlete at Jenkins High School, has been suspended from The Citadel after he was arrested Saturday and charged with third-degree domestic violence.

According to The Citadel Department of Public Safety incident report released Monday afternoon, two Cadets gave statements Friday night that Middleton "had beat up his girlfriend and threatened to shoot himself and them."

The allegations came after authorities had been called to Middleton's room to investigate reports that Middleton had a firearm on campus. Middleton's room was searched and, with his permission, his vehicle was searched. No weapons were found.

Middleton is a senior at the university in Charleston, S.C., and a redshirt sophomore cornerback on the football team. The Citadel Office of Communications and Marketing released a statement Sunday confirming Middleton was arrested on campus by the Department of Public Safety.

Third-degree domestic violence is a misdemeanor in South Carolina with penalties including up to 90 days in jail.

"The Citadel Department of Public Safety executed an arrest warrant for domestic violence, third degree, against Cadet Javonte Middleton on Saturday, August 28 on campus," the statement read. "He is temporarily suspended from the college while the case progresses through the legal system."

Third-degree domestic violence is defined in South Carolina as a person causing physical injury, or threatening to cause physical injury and creating fear of imminent peril, to a household member.

According to The Citadel Department of Public Safety incident report, officers were dispatched around 10:45 p.m. Friday to Middleton's campus residence after a third party said Middleton had a firearm on campus. "No firearms or contraband of any type were located," according to the report.

The department then received a call that two Cadets were willing to give statements "that Cadet Middleton stated that he had a gun. Also unknown to us at the time, they said while giving statements, he had beat up his girlfriend and threatened to shoot himself and them. The girlfriend, also a Cadet, wished to remain (uninvolved and unknown)." The two Cadets, Reginald Reynolds and Alijah Alford, "would not give up her name," the report said.

There are track and field athletes named Reggie Reynolds, a thrower, and Alijah Alford, a sprinter, according to The Citadel athletics website.

"Cadet Reynolds and Cadet Alford both gave statements accusing Cadet Middleton of hitting and pushing this female and of him saying he had a gun and was going to get it out of his vehicle," according to the report.

Middleton, after his room and vehicle were searched, was asked by one of the reporting officers, Pfc. Philip Chadwick Hart, if he had threatened anyone and "he stated no, not at all," according to the report.

Middleton was released back to the barracks. About 30 minutes later, Alford and Reynolds gave their statements. On Saturday, Middleton was placed under arrest without incident at 3:49 p.m. and taken to Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston, S.C.

Middleton is on track to graduate in the spring with a degree in sports management.

The Citadel is scheduled to open the season at 7 p.m. Thursday at No. 22 Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C.

Middleton appeared in 11 games in 2020-21 and made eight starts, finishing with 26 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and three pass break-ups. The 6-foot, 180-pounder recorded a season-high seven tackles in his first career start against Clemson.

He was named the military captain of the Bulldogs last spring and became the first player from the school to wear the coveted No. 0. Middleton serves as a point of contact between the coaches, the school president and regiment officer to the players on the team, among other responsibilities.

He came to The Citadel as a quarterback following a highly decorated career as a three-sport standout in football, baseball and basketball at Jenkins. He was selected the Ashley Dearing Award winner in 2018 as Savannah's most versatile high school male athlete in his senior year.

A four-year starter at quarterback, he helped the Warriors to the GHSA Class 3A Elite Eight as a senior in the fall of 2017, when he passed for 2,098 yards and 17 scores and ran for 550 yards and 11 touchdowns.

That season, Middleton was named the winner of the Michael Finocchiaro Memorial Award as the outstanding high school player in Savannah, while collecting Savannah Morning News Football Player of the Year honors.

He also was a three-time all-region pick in baseball.

Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz

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