Almost a 12 months after allegations of sexual misconduct in opposition to Deshaun Watson have been first publicized, a number of girls who filed felony complaints in opposition to him have been subpoenaed to seem earlier than a grand jury on Friday, in keeping with their lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
Ten girls filed felony complaints in opposition to Watson, the Houston Texans quarterback, final 12 months, accusing him of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods, in keeping with Houston police data. The complaints launched to the general public have been closely redacted however listed acts starting from Watson exposing himself, touching therapists’ fingers 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 can determine if felony prices will probably be introduced in opposition to 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 e-book 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 12 months in jail and a most wonderful of $4,000, whereas sexual assault is a second-degree felony.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing, and it’s doable the grand jury will determine 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 fulfill 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 resolution to be made by then and it appears to be like 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 legal professional’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 will probably be questioned underneath oath for a few of the 22 civil fits in opposition to him, Buzbee mentioned. Eight of the ten girls who filed felony 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 choose dominated final month that depositions of Watson might start for 9 of the civil instances through which the plaintiffs have already given their depositions and didn’t file felony complaints.
Hardin mentioned the deposition of Watson on Friday will probably 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 in opposition to 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 occurred, the deadline for bringing prices in opposition to Watson in reference to Solis’s case is the tip of this month.
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Of the ten felony complaints filed with Houston police, one has already handed the statute of limitations, an account of indecent assault from 2019. One other occurred outdoors Harris County and could be in a unique prosecutor’s jurisdiction.
Complainants who obtain a subpoena don’t know if the prosecutor will probably be presenting their case to the grand jury or if they’re being referred to 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.
