News & Info/Headlines

Following up on the ongoing story. ... A complainant on Friday filed a criminal report against Deshaun Watson, according to the Houston Police Department.

The Texans quarterback faces 21 civil lawsuits from massage therapists or wellness professionals who allege he sexually assaulted or harassed them at various points during massage sessions in 2020 or 2021.

Watson and his attorney, Rusty Hardin, have denied the claims.

"We welcome this long overdue development," Hardin said Friday evening of the police investigation. "Now we will learn the identity of at least one accuser. We will fully cooperate with the Houston Police Department."

According to Houston Chronicle reporters Hannah Dellinger and Samantha Ketterer, the police department is now investigating and declined to comment further.

A spokesperson for the Texans declined to comment on the criminal investigation when asked by the Chronicle, saying the team is waiting for the completion of the NFL's investigation before making further statements.

"We are continuing to monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review of the Personal Conduct Policy," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Chronicle when asked about the investigation.

Watson is currently facing 21 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior, all filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee.

In the civil lawsuits, most of the accusers say Watson reached out to them through social media and booked massage appointments. The football star was usually naked or wore a small towel instead of using the typical coverings, they said, and he became aggressive during the sessions, asking the women to massage him close to his penis or anus.

Several of the women allege that Watson purposefully moved himself so his penis touched their hands, and in other cases, they say he ejaculated on them. In three instances, the women said he coerced or forced them to perform oral sex, according to the litigation.

According to the Chronicle, Buzbee was not immediately available for comment on the criminal investigation Friday.

As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio notes, it's unknown whether the complainant is one of the 21 plaintiffs who have sued Watson in civil court.

Florio went on to remind readers that criminal charges, if filed, ultimately must be established with proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors, given the broad discretion they have, routinely choose not to pursue criminal convictions if they believe it will be difficult to overcome that very high bar.

For the civil cases, a much lower standard of proof (preponderance of the evidence, basically 51-49) applies.