A second grand jury in Texas has declined to indict newly signed Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on criminal charges over sexual assault allegations, the district attorney announced Thursday.
"After a careful and thorough review of the facts and evidence documented in the reports prepared by the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department, as well as hearing testimony from witnesses, the Grand Jury for Brazoria County has declined to charge Deshaun Watson with any crimes," Brazoria County DA Tom Selleck announced in a statement to multiple media outlets.
Rusty Hardin, one of Watson’s attorneys, told FOX 8 Cleveland that a complaint had been filed by one of the women who are involved in the 22 civil lawsuits levied at the former Houston Texans quarterback.
"We are thrilled that the Brazoria County grand jury cleared Deshaun Watson of the one remaining criminal allegation. We’ve known all along what people who learn the facts also know - Deshaun committed no crimes. In fact, two separate grand juries have now found that there wasn’t even probable cause to believe he committed a crime," Hardin said in a statement after the second grand jury declined to indict Watson.
"It’s important to note that both we and the Cleveland Browns knew this grand jury presentation was pending and attempted not to discuss it publicly until it was completed," he added. "It is time to let the civil litigation proceed at a normal pace and for Deshaun Watson to take his place as the quarterback of the future for the Browns. I am fully confident that the Cleveland community will discover that Deshaun Watson is not just a great quarterback but also an incredibly decent person they will be proud to have represent their city."
A Harris County grand jury dismissed nine of 10 criminal complaints against Watson earlier this month, setting the path for the Texans to trade Watson to the Browns last week.
Hardin said the complaint wasn't new and that officials wanted to wait until the Harris County grand jury finished its deliberations before the next case was presented.
After Cleveland traded for Watson last week, owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry, and coach Kevin Stefanski all released statements explaining why the Browns decided to trade and give up so much for Watson, who is still in the middle of the suits and under investigation by the NFL over the accusations.
"We look forward to having Deshaun as our starting quarterback. We have done extensive investigative, legal and reference work over the past several months to provide us with the appropriate information needed to make an informed decision about pursuing him and moving forward with him as our quarterback," Berry said.
Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the 22 women accusing Watson of sexual assault in the civil lawsuits, told FOX 8 Cleveland he didn’t hear from the Browns during the process.
"No one from the Browns organization reached out to me or my clients," he said. "I didn’t expect them too. I would have certainly talked to them had they asked to talk to any of my clients, and had the clients wanted to do so, I would have allowed that to happen."
Watson, who didn’t play last season after requesting a trade from the Texans, has maintained his innocence throughout the entire process.
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