A grand jury on Friday declined to indict Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson following a police investigation sparked by lawsuits filed by 22 girls who've accused him of sexual assault and harassment.
The grand jury’s resolution got here a couple of 12 months after the ladies first filed their fits, accusing Watson of exposing himself, touching them along with his penis or kissing them in opposition to their will throughout therapeutic massage appointments. One girl alleged Watson pressured her to carry out oral intercourse.
Houston police started investigating Watson in April 2021 after a legal criticism was filed. The FBI additionally was reviewing the allegations.
Prosecutors introduced proof and testimony to the grand jury for over six hours on Friday associated to 9 legal complaints in opposition to Watson, Johna Stallings, chief of the grownup intercourse crimes and trafficking division with the Harris County District Legal professional’s Workplace, stated. She declined to say what attainable costs have been introduced to the grand jury for consideration.
“We respect the grand jury’s resolution,” Stallings stated.
Stallings stated that call ended legal proceedings associated to Watson in Harris County, the place Houston is situated.
Watson’s legal professionals have stated “some sexual exercise” occurred throughout a number of the therapeutic massage appointments however that he by no means coerced anybody.
“We're delighted that the grand jury has regarded on the matter totally and reached the identical conclusion we did. Deshaun Watson didn't commit any crimes and isn't responsible of any offenses,” Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lead legal professional, stated in an announcement.
Tony Buzbee, the legal professional representing the 22 girls, stated the legal case is separate from the civil circumstances and he'll proceed the method of questioning Watson because the lawsuits transfer towards trial. Earlier Friday, Buzbee questioned Watson throughout a deposition, the primary the NFL star has given as a part of the lawsuits.
“The civil circumstances will proceed to assemble steam. We take Mr. Watson’s deposition once more Tuesday. Respect the method,” Buzbee stated.
Eight of the ladies who sued Watson filed legal complaints in opposition to him with Houston police and had been set to look earlier than the grand jury. Two different girls who didn’t sue Watson additionally filed police complaints.
Watson’s legal professionals have sought to stability their protection of the NFL star whereas concurrently condemning sexual violence in opposition to girls. They've referred to as the lawsuits a “cash seize” and claimed that every one 22 girls who sued are mendacity — a technique some specialists and advocates say depends on long-used tropes designed to attenuate such accusations.
Buzbee has stated a few of his purchasers have confronted criticism and even dying threats.
Even earlier than the lawsuits have been filed in March 2021, Watson had requested to be traded. The commerce request and the lawsuits saved Watson out all final season. The Texans have been anticipated to try to commerce Watson this offseason.
No trial date has been set for the lawsuits.
The deposition of Watson for the civil circumstances came about within the places of work of Hardin’s regulation agency, situated about half a mile (0.8 km) away from the Harris County legal courthouse in downtown Houston, the place the grand jury met.
Watson invoked his Fifth Modification proper in opposition to self-incrimination in the course of the deposition, Hardin stated.
“No lawyer in America would let their consumer testify in a courtroom case with the identical issues being thought of by a grand jury,” Hardin stated.
With the legal investigation over, “we're glad to maneuver ahead with the civil case depositions” Hardin stated.
Buzbee stated that Watson’s refusal to reply his questions Friday solely bolstered the ladies’s allegations.
“If he did nothing fallacious, why not simply say that?” Buzbee stated.
Hardin stated Buzbee’s solely aim on Friday was to ask Watson “salacious questions” and launch transcripts to the media to make him look dangerous.
Hardin and Buzbee are two of the best-known legal professionals in Texas. Hardin is a civil and legal protection legal professional who represented ex-pitcher Roger Clemens when he was acquitted in 2012 of costs that he lied to Congress by denying he used performance-enhancing medicine. Buzbee represented former Texas Gov. Rick Perry in an abuse-of-power case and settled lawsuits for 10 youngsters who had accused Texas millionaire Stanley Marsh 3 of paying them for sexual acts.
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