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A grand jury in Brazoria County, Texas is considering evidence on the 10th charge of a sexual misconduct charge against former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Traded to the Cleveland Browns According to a lawyer for the complainant only a few days ago.
A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, where Houston is located, dismissed nine criminal cases against Watson earlier this month. However, the 10th criminal complaint filed with the Houston Police Department described an incident that allegedly fell outside the jurisdiction of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
The case in Brazoria County, south of Houston, is the last known criminal case against Watson. The complainant told police that Watson ejaculated at a massage appointment in November 2020. His lawyer, Tony Buzbee, said he expects the grand jury to deliberate and make a decision on Thursday or Friday. Neither the Browns nor Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, were available for immediate comment.
The final grand jury trial was held. Originally reported by WJW on Fox 8 in Cleveland.
The public police report was largely rectified, but the complainant told police that Watson “touched and ejaculated with his penis, causing semen to touch his arm and hand”.
The complainant named in the criminal complaint is one of 22 plaintiffs who sued Watson in civil court for sexual abuse during massage appointments.
Watson denied all wrongdoing, and Hardin said that sexual acts that occur during massage appointments are consensual.
After the Harris County grand jury denied charges on March 11, Hardin said in a statement that “criminal investigations are complete.” NFL teams saw the Harris County decision as the green light to follow Watson through the trade, and the Browns awarded Watson a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract, a record for a guaranteed deal. The nature of the deal—with a 2022 base salary of just about $1 million—will mitigate Watson’s financial penalty for missing games if the NFL suspends him for violating its personal conduct policy.
said the browns in a statement On Sunday, they announced they were conducting a “extensive evaluation process” and conducting “extensive” investigative, legal and reference studies before trading for Watson. The statement acknowledged that “some legal action” is still pending, but it was unclear whether the Browns were aware that a lawsuit would be filed with the Brazoria County grand jury this week.
The NFL’s investigation into the allegations against Watson continues. A person who identified himself as a safety representative for the NFL requested information, including witness statements and phone records or social media messages, from the Houston Police Department on March 15, as well as an interview with police investigators working on the case. to police records.
Buzbee said Watson exercised her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in civil testimony given prior to the Harris County grand jury’s verdict, but waived that right and answered questions under oath in testimony last week and this week.
Prior to signing with the Browns, Watson also teamed up with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints last week.
Kevin Draper contributing reporting.
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