Practically a yr after allegations of sexual misconduct towards Deshaun Watson had been first publicized, a number of ladies who filed prison complaints towards him have been subpoenaed to look earlier than a grand jury on Friday, based on their lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
Ten ladies filed prison complaints towards Watson, the Houston Texans quarterback, final yr, accusing him of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes, based on Houston police information. The complaints launched to the general public had been closely redacted however listed acts starting from Watson exposing himself, touching therapists’ palms together with his penis and ejaculating on them. Three of the complaints allege sexual assault or tried sexual assault, outlined in Texas as nonconsensual penetration. Prosecutors are anticipated to current at the least a few of these instances to the grand jury, which is able to resolve if prison fees can be introduced towards Watson.
Search warrants issued in October in reference to the Houston police investigation, looking for entry to the social media and Money App accounts police mentioned Watson used to guide and pay for massages, named indecent assault because the crime being investigated. Indecent assault is a category A misdemeanor in Texas, punishable by as much as one yr in jail and a most high-quality of $4,000, whereas sexual assault is a second-degree felony.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing, and it’s doable the grand jury will resolve to not indict him for any crime. Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lawyer, mentioned on Tuesday that he was “delighted” that the grand jury was going to satisfy as a result of these issues have been looming over Watson for a lot too lengthy already. He’s hoping that the grand jury will decide about Watson on Friday.
“The free company time is across the nook and we’ve wished this determination to be made by then and it seems like they’re going to and I’m welcoming it,” Hardin mentioned in a phone interview.
“There’s by no means been any crime right here, irrespective of should you name it indecent assault or anything,” he mentioned. “These are civil issues that belong within the civil courts.”
The district lawyer’s workplace for Harris County, which incorporates Houston, didn’t instantly return messages looking for remark.
The identical day as grand jury proceedings seem set to start, Watson can be questioned beneath oath for among the 22 civil fits towards him, Buzbee mentioned. Eight of the ten ladies who filed prison complaints even have a pending civil go well with, however Watson is not going to but be deposed in these instances. Hardin sought to delay Watson’s deposition till after April 1. However a decide dominated final month that depositions of Watson may start for 9 of the civil instances by which the plaintiffs have already given their depositions and didn’t file prison complaints.
Hardin mentioned the deposition of Watson on Friday can be “a nugatory train” as a result of he’ll advise Watson to claim his Fifth Modification proper to not incriminate himself.
“We’re not going to reply questions till the grand jury is accomplished,” he mentioned.
Ashley Solis, a 28-year-old licensed therapeutic massage therapist, filed the primary civil go well with towards Watson final spring, saying that he purposely touched her hand together with his erect and uncovered penis throughout a March 30, 2020, therapeutic massage appointment at her residence. She filed a police report in early April 2021. As a result of the statute of limitations for misdemeanor instances in Texas is 2 years from the date the offense befell, the deadline for bringing fees towards Watson in reference to Solis’s case is the top of this month.
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Of the ten prison complaints filed with Houston police, one has already handed the statute of limitations, an account of indecent assault from 2019. One other befell exterior Harris County and could be in a special prosecutor’s jurisdiction.
Complainants who obtain a subpoena don’t know if the prosecutor can be presenting their case to the grand jury or if they’re being known as in as a witness for different instances. Buzbee mentioned he knew of at the least six of his purchasers who obtained a subpoena.
Watson has not performed in an N.F.L. sport since January 2021. He was eligible to play in the course of the 2021 season however sat out as he sought a commerce from the Texans.