Watson denies newest sexual assault allegations

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has denied allegations of sexual assault and battery that had been levied in a lawsuit filed earlier this week in Texas.

“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations within the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday,” legal professional Rusty Hardin, who’s representing Watson, wrote Wednesday in an announcement. “We now have requested him to not remark additional whereas this matter works its method via the courts, however are snug he’ll in the end be vindicated. We can be able to defend this case in courtroom on the acceptable time, however do not intend to conduct our protection within the media. We’d ask that folks be affected person whereas the authorized course of runs its course.”

The NFL on Tuesday stated it is reviewing the complaint beneath the non-public conduct coverage, however added that Watson won’t be positioned on the commissioner’s exempt listing as a result of there have been no formal prices and the league’s evaluate simply started.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated Watson will nonetheless begin Sunday towards the Jacksonville Jaguars however declined to touch upon the lawsuit, deferring to a workforce assertion launched Tuesday.

“We’ll let the due course of play out and comply with the NFL’s pointers,” stated Stefanski, who added that he was unaware of the allegations towards Watson earlier than the lawsuit was filed.

In accordance with the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Harris County, Texas, the alleged actions occurred in October 2020 earlier than Watson and a lady, recognized as Jane Doe within the courtroom submitting, had been set to have dinner on the lady’s condo. Watson was a member of the Houston Texans on the time.

The lawsuit states that Watson met the lady, a single mom, at a Houston restaurant and bar, managed to get her telephone quantity and initially tried to have her meet him on the Houston Galleria for a date. Reluctant to fulfill Watson in public, the lady as a substitute agreed to a dinner date at her condo, in line with the lawsuit.

On the night of the date, in line with the lawsuit, she stated Watson had hassle discovering her condo and started aggressively yelling and screaming at her on the telephone, saying he did not “have time for this.”

The lawsuit alleges that, whereas making use of make-up in her lavatory, the lady then discovered Watson “fully bare on her mattress, mendacity face down on his abdomen.” Watson then requested that the lady therapeutic massage his buttocks and the lady “tried to appease Watson by rubbing his again, moderately than his buttocks,” in line with the lawsuit.

Watson then turned over and “continued to demand that Jane Doe therapeutic massage him, gesturing from his knees to his groin,” in line with the lawsuit. The girl advised Watson that she was not a masseuse, to which Watson requested her what she needed to do as a substitute, the swimsuit alleges.

Earlier than the lady might reply, Watson “partially disrobed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina with out consent, implicit or express,” in line with the lawsuit, which additionally alleges that Watson sexually assaulted the lady for a number of minutes earlier than she escaped and grabbed a heavy piece of decor for self-defense. Watson then “stormed out of Jane Doe’s condo,” in line with the lawsuit.

Watson, who’s scheduled to talk to media Wednesday, served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after greater than two dozen ladies accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage periods. A pair of Texas grand juries declined to pursue felony prices towards Watson, however he served his suspension after the NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation reached a settlement in his disciplinary matter.

Watson additionally needed to pay a nice of $5 million and endure necessary analysis by behavioral specialists and comply with their urged remedy program earlier than being reinstated by the league.

Watson settled 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits filed towards him in the summertime of 2022.

The lawsuit filed Monday is unrelated to the lone swimsuit remaining from the ladies who accused Watson of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods. Nonetheless, the identical legal professional, Tony Buzbee, is representing the newest lady to sue Watson.

Within the prior civil circumstances, a decide compelled the ladies suing Watson to make use of their precise names in courtroom filings. Hardin advised ESPN on Wednesday that he intends to ask the courtroom to require the lady who sued Watson on Monday to even be recognized by identify in courtroom filings.

In March 2022, the Browns traded six draft picks, together with three first-round picks, for Watson and gave him a completely assured $230 million deal, which was an NFL file on the time.

The suspension and accidents have restricted Watson to simply 13 begins with Cleveland, which features a 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday — his first sport since present process season-ending shoulder surgical procedure final November. Watson accomplished 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, one landing and two interceptions within the loss.

ESPN’s John Barr contributed to this report.