Deshaun Watson on No We Auck Again

A criminal grand jury in Texas has declined to indict Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson after because show of possible sexual misconduct against him in a hearing Friday – a evolution that dramatically reduces the trouble he had been facing for the past year.

The k jury's decision essentially means he won't face criminal charges in this case unless the 1000 jury revisits it with new evidence. If he had been indicted past the grand jury, he'd be facing possible jail time and likely a more difficult path back to the NFL.

But at present that he appears clear of criminal charges, his just court battles will be in defense of 22 civil lawsuits filed by women who accused him of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Those cases can be dragged out or resolved out of court, though he still faces possible discipline by the NFL.

"Afterward a Harris Canton chiliad jury was presented all the evidence and had the opportunity to hear from all witnesses, one thousand jurors declined to indict Deshaun Watson," said Dane Schiller, spokesman for the Harris County District Attorney'southward Role. "K jury proceedings are surreptitious by law, so no data related to their inquiry may exist disclosed."

The women who filed ceremonious lawsuits against Watson mostly said he exposed himself or acquired improper touching during these encounters, ofttimes afterward he initially contacted them on Instagram to become a massage.

Eight of these women were subpoenaed to testify in the thousand jury hearing, according to their chaser, Tony Buzbee, though information technology'south not clear how many of them actually testified. The yard jury heard nine cases against him but declined to indict on each. Court records prove that law enforcement had been investigating him for indecent assail, a misdemeanor that could bring up to a year in jail fourth dimension.

Watson addressed reporters after the decision came out, calling it a "very emotional moment."

"I'm going to keep fighting to rebuild my name and rebuild my advent in the customs," Watson said. "And we're going to continue to, on the legal side, off the field, handle what we demand to handle but also prepare to go back on the field."

His attorney, Rusty Hardin, issued a statement.

"Nosotros are delighted that the grand jury has looked at the affair thoroughly and reached the same conclusion we did: Deshaun Watson did non commit any crimes and is not guilty of any offenses."

The grand jury's conclusion not to indict generally ways that it didn't notice plenty evidence that a crime was committed nether the standard of probable cause. In Texas, criminal grand juries have 12 members and are led by prosecutors in secret proceedings, in this case the Harris County Commune Attorney'due south Office. An indictment requires at least nine to vote in favor.

If he had been indicted, he likely would take pleaded not guilty as the example proceeded to a criminal trial.

"It's understandable that the prosecutor would nowadays the case to a 1000 jury given the fact that at that place are and so many accusations," said Kenneth Williams, a professor at South Texas College of Law Houston. Williams said a one thousand jury'southward conclusion can "depend on how aggressive the prosecutor presents the case."

Watson, 26, has denied the accusations through Hardin, who said the adult female were lying and out for money, and that whatever sexual acts that occurred were consensual.

The first civil lawsuit was filed in March 2021, setting off a flurry of cases that helped bring his NFL career to a standstill afterwards he agreed to a four-twelvemonth, $156 million contract in 2020 and so led the league in passing yards. He wasn't suspended by the NFL terminal yr just did not play in the 2021 season as law enforcement investigated the allegations. Despite his desire to be traded to some other team, his trade value also plummeted amid concerns about his legal situation.

The NFL has been investigating these allegations in the concurrently.

"Nosotros have been closely monitoring all developments in the thing which remains under review of the personal conduct policy," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday.

In a dissever proceeding Friday, Watson was scheduled to sit for a deposition in two of the civil lawsuits for the offset fourth dimension, according to Buzbee. But Hardin had fabricated articulate he wanted Watson to invoke his Fifth Subpoena right non to evidence against himself because anything he said in a civil proceeding could be used against him in the criminal case. That is what happened Friday: He declined to reply questions.

Buzbee confirmed that Friday and noted that the the criminal instance is separate from the civil cases. He cited the O.J. Simpson cases every bit an case. Simpson, the old football star, was acquitted of double-murder charges past a criminal jury at trial but was constitute liable by a jury for wrongful deaths in a civil instance afterward.

"The criminal case doesn't impact the civil case result," Buzbee said Friday. "The civil cases volition continue to gather steam. We take Mr. Watson's depo once again Tuesday. We have to respect the process."

The civil cases and related depositions will proceed this time without the deject of a criminal investigation hanging over Watson'southward head, as it had been for the past yr.

"We will vigorously defend those cases with every ounce we have," Hardin said in his statement. "There were no crimes here, only in that location is a plaintiffs' attorney churning up negative printing and churning upwards his clients hoping for a payday. These cases accept been the product of a lawyer maximizing his ain personal publicity at the expense of others, including his own clients. It is fourth dimension to permit Deshaun move on."

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Electronic mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/03/11/deshaun-watson-texans-no-criminal-charges-sexual-misconduct-claims/6993260001/

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