A second grand jury has decided not to bring criminal charges against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The district attorney for the Brazoria district, south of Houston, said that after reviewing the facts, evidence, documents and hearing witness testimony, the jury determined that there were no grounds to charge Deshaun Watson with any crime and closed the matter.
Press release on Deshaun Watson not being indicted from Brazoria County, Texas DA Tom Selleck. pic.twitter.com/en7YBSbiNd
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 24, 2022
The same thing happened with another hearing in Harris County a few days ago, so civil complaints of sexual misconduct and harassment filed by 22 women against Watson remain to be resolved.
"We have always known what people who know the facts know: Deshaun committed no crime. In fact, two separate grand juries have found that there was not even probable cause to believe he committed a crime," Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement.
He said it was time to move the civil matters along so they could be resolved at their normal pace and Watson could concentrate on taking his place as the quarterback of the future with the Browns.
"I am fully confident that the Cleveland community will find that Deshaun Watson is not only a great quarterback, but also an incredibly decent person who they will be proud to have represent their city," Hardin said. Source.
QB Deshaun Watson was acquired by the Browns in exchange for three first-round picks, and three other picks, and Cleveland gave him a new five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract.
Related : The Deshaun Watson effect
In addition to the civil lawsuits filed against him being resolved, it remains to be seen whether and for how long, if at all, the NFL will suspend quarterback Deshaun Watson for violating the league's personal code of conduct. That code states that a player need not be found guilty of a crime for a suspension to proceed.
