Deshaun Watson will not face criminal charges as a Harris County (Texas) grand jury on Friday chose not to indict the quarterback on nine criminal complaints of sexual assault or harassment, according to Johna Stallings with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
“Today we presented nine criminal complaints for consideration by the grand jury. Beginning at 9 o’clock this morning, we presented evidence for over six hours for the grand jury to consider, as well as having witnesses available for those persons to testify in front of the grand jury,” Stallings, of the division chief of adult sex crimes and trafficking at the Harris County District attorney’s office. “And the grand jury considered all of that evidence and returned nine no bills against Deshaun Watson involving these nine criminal complaints. We respect the grand jury’s decision and … conclude the criminal proceedings in Harris County.”
Per the Houston Chronicle and The New York Times:
The decision came down the same day Watson was deposed in connection with two of the 22 civil lawsuits against him, which are separate legal matters. Watson declined to answer questions under oath, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate himself during that proceeding, attorney Rusty Hardin said.
… Neither of those cases in the deposition involved women who filed criminal cases against the quarterback, however. Tony Buzbee, a lawyer for the 22 women who have filed civil lawsuits against Watson, said that Watson cited his Fifth Amendment right and declined to answer questions during the two depositions, as Hardin previously said he would. Each of the depositions lasted about 90 minutes, and Buzbee estimated that Watson responded to 150 questions or more by citing his Fifth Amendment right. The women who filed these two civil cases did not submit criminal complaints against Watson.
Watson, 26, has denied any wrongdoing.
The NFL's own investigation into the Watson allegations remains open. League investigators have spoken with at least 10 of the women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct, but have not yet spoken with Watson.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 11, 2022
In a statement on Deshaun Watson, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the league has "been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy."
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) March 11, 2022
Accused people are more likely to get "no bills" if they have good lawyers early, during the investigation of a matter. Defense counsel can't argue to the grand jury, but they can provide info to police/DAs, ask the DA to give additional evidence to GJ, which here, they often do https://t.co/oLWucLdLiT
— Stephanie Stradley (@StephStradley) March 11, 2022
Watson did not play at all for the Texans in the 2021 season under this cloud of controversy.
