Student-athlete faces felony theft charge in teammate’s necklace case
By Aryle McCutcheon | Staff writer
An Augusta University student-athlete is facing a felony theft-by-taking charge after authorities say she stole and pawned a teammate’s necklace valued at up to $10,000.
Lauren Posa, a kinesiology major from Johns Creek who was a co-caption of the volleyball team last season, is accused of taking her teammate’s necklace in October 2025 from the volleyball team’s locker room at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The necklace was later pawned for $2,900, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies went to the pawn shop during the investigation, and the owner told them he had just sold the necklace. Ultimately, sheriff’s deputies were able to recover the necklace and return it to the victim.
An arrest warrant was then issued for Posa, who later turned herself in. She was charged with felony theft by taking. Posa posted a $5,900 bond and has been released, with an arraignment scheduled for March 6. She is being represented by James Todd Mitchell, an Augusta attorney.
Associate professor Candace Griffith, a member of the Augusta University criminal justice faculty, explained that an arraignment marks the formal beginning of court proceedings.
“At the arraignment, she will enter her plea, and the case will then move forward through the courts,” Griffith said. “It’s currently charged as a felony theft, but that charge could potentially be negotiated down to a misdemeanor.”
Griffith added that because Posa is a first-time offender she could qualify for a diversion program.
“In some cases, first-time offenders may be offered a diversion program that includes community service,” Griffith said. “If the program is successfully completed, the charges could be dropped.”
University officials have released a statement that said:
“Augusta University is aware of the recent arrest of a former student-athlete. We are fully cooperating with the Augusta University Police Department and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office as they conduct their investigation.”
Griffith also noted that since the crime occurred on campus, Posa also faces an honors code violation.
Scott Wallace, AU dean of students, explained the honor-code process, which states that the university looks at complaints from students, a housing incident report or a police report.
“However we get that, we are going to look at whether our code of conduct has been violated,” he said.
While Wallace could not talk about the specifics of the Posa situation, he did say any investigation of an AU student who is alleged to have violated the code of conduct would result in a report from an investigator. The student would be given notice of the complaint.
Then, after receiving a final investigative report and the charges, the student would face a hearing where evidence would be presented. Once a judgment is rendered, the student would have the right to appeal the verdict. The student also has the right to an advisor, which can be an attorney.
Contact Aryle McCutcheon at amccutcheon@augusta.edu.
Lauren Posa (9) plays in an Augusta University volleyball match during the 2025 season. At the top of the page, Posa attempts an attack; her arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 6 in front of Chief Judge John Flythe. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
