Texas Grand Jury to Investigate Last Watson Criminal Complaint

It seems that the Cleveland Browns and Deshaun Watson are not out of the woods yet as another grand jury is considering evidence against Watson for sexual misconduct, according to Tony Buzbee, the defendant’s lawyer, and first reported by Fox 8 WJW in Cleveland.

The is the last of the criminal complaints filed against Watson and the only outside the jurisdiction of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. A grand jury in Harris County declined to charge Watson last week prior to being traded to the Browns.

In this case, the grand jury will be based in Brazoria County in Texas and only focused on the criminal case that the Harris County grand jury declined to investigate. The accuser’s name was redacted in the report, but she is one of the 22 suing Watson for sexual misconduct.

The heavily redacted police report alleges that Watson touched the defendant with his penis and then ejaculated, which landed on her hand and arm. Watson has denied all allegations and Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lawyer, said that any sexual acts that happened during massage appointments were consensual. Most of Watson’s accusers were massage therapists.

The NFL is still investigating the allegations against Watson for a potential violation of the league’s personal conduct policy which could mean a minimum six game suspension. The Browns announced on Sunday that they had completed a “comprehensive evaluation process” of Watson and the allegations against him prior to acquiring him from Houston. 

After acquiring Watson the team signed him to a record five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with a one million base salary for the 2022 season. That last point means that Watson’s financial risk is significantly lowered should he be suspended for any portion of the upcoming season.