ATHENS, Ga. -- Former Georgia basketball player Tony Cole was charged with writing a bad check, and a warrant for his arrest was issued this week.

Cole's accusations of misconduct against the program resulted in the firing of assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr., and the scandal has threatened the career of his father, head coach Jim Harrick.

Cole was charged this week with bouncing a $578 rent check on Dec. 2, a spokesman for the Clarke County Sheriff's Department confirmed Saturday. A bad check written for an amount above $500 is considered a felony.

If Cole remains in Louisiana, he would be arrested on the charge only if he were stopped by police for any other reason. Then he could face extradition to Georgia.

Cole's attorney Steve Sadow said he did not know any of the details and had not been contacted by Cole. He added that he didn't think Cole knew about the charge, but said arrangements would be made to settle the issue.

Cole, who was kicked off the Georgia team last year after being charged with aggravated assault with intent to rape, moved from Athens to Baton Rouge, La., in December.

Managers at College Park Apartments asked Magistrate Judge Patricia Barron for the warrant Thursday, but they said their timing was not related to Cole's allegations.

"He knew that he owed it,'' said assistant property manager Melissa Gary, who applied for the warrant.

Last month, Cole accused Harrick Jr. of paying some of his bills, and said he was given an "A'' in a coaching class the assistant coach taught, although Cole never attended. Cole also said he used the elder Harrick's personal credit card to buy a television.

The head coach has denied the allegations.

Cole was among three Georgia athletes accused in a campus rape. The charges eventually were dropped, but Cole was kicked off the basketball team for repeated violations.