Throughout his high school career, Deon Johnson has had everything going for him. A senior wide receiver at Spanish Fort (Ala.) High, Johnson is one of the top ranked "athlete" recruits in the Class of 2013. He has committed to play for the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. In fact, Johnson's speed and physical build has even drawn comparisons with former Alabama star turned Falcons receiver Julio Jones.
Yet all of that may have changed late Thursday, when Johnson was arrested on charges of second-degree rape and sodomy in connection with a sexual encounter he had with a fellow student. According to the Mobile Press-Register, the age of the other student involved has not been released, but the laws governing consensual sex in the state of Alabama dictate that she is younger than 16 but older than 12.
Daphne police lieutenant Jud Beedy told the Press Register that the sexual incident occurred across a very wide period of time -- at some period between December and last week -- and that the investigation into the star receiver was brought on by a complaint from the other students' parents.
Johnson reportedly missed his team's game on Friday, which followed four days after he had a standout performance on national television against nearby rival Daphne (Ala.) High, catching a 60-yard touchdown pass and amassing an impressive 110 yards of total offense against a tough Daphne defense in Spanish Fort's Labor Day victory on ESPN.
Just as that impressive performance was overshadowed by the poor judgment of a few Spanish Fort fans in the stands, Johnson's career achievements may also be seen in a darker light because of the sexual charges against him.
"This is an active police investigation and, as such, we are very limited with our ability to share information," Baldwin County Public Schools spokesman Terry Wilhite told the Press Register. "Right now, we really have very limited information at all. The matter is under review by the administration."
Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.