Star quarterback accused of rape pleads guilty to three charges

DALTON, Ga. - A star high-school football player was back on the field Friday after he pleaded guilty to rape charges.<br> <br> David Christopher Raymond, 18, had faced four felony charges, including rape, aggravated sodomy and two counts of child molestation. The charges stemmed from accusations that he forced a 15-year-old girl into having sex in his car in July.<br> <br> But prosecutors dropped the felony charges for a plea agreement that allowed him to avoid a mandatory 10-year prison sentence if convicted.<br> <br> Raymond on Thursday pleaded guilty to charges of statutory rape, solicitation of sodomy and sexual battery.<br> <br> &#34;We simply thought a 10-year sentence for a 17-year-old was not the right thing to do,&#34; district attorney Kermit McManus said.<br> <br> Raymond&#39;s guilty plea won&#39;t affect his playing status, said Ronnie McClurg, Dalton High School&#39;s football coach.<br> <br> &#34;That is all behind us now,&#34; McClurg said.<br> <br> On Friday, Raymond ran in a game-tying touchdown against LaFayette. Dalton won the game, 21-20.<br> <br>