Three search warrants have been issued for the social media accounts for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
According to a report from Nicole Hensley of the Houston Chronicle, the three search warrants were signed by a judge in October to collect data from Watson’s Instagram and Cash App usage.
ABC13 [KTRK-TV] obtained all three warrants and report that the crime being investigated is indecent assault.
Although Watson is the defendant in a lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault, the Houston Police Department has received nine criminal complaints, the FBI has investigated, and the NFL is conducting its own investigation, the three-time Pro Bowler has not been criminally charged.
According to the Chronicle report, Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, welcomed the investigation into Watson’s records.
The warrants will allow investigators to look at Watson’s Cash App account for transaction recipients, account record holders, including history statements and IP addresses, as well as a description of the transactions and location of all devices. The scope of the Cash App warrant is from Sept. 1, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2021.
Investigators will have access to chat logs, friends, followers, following, all messages, and search history. Investigators are also trying to obtain access to deleted information.
Watson has been a member of the Texans’ active roster since the start of the regular season, making over $10.5 million. However, aside from doing individual work throughout training camp, Watson has not practiced at all this season nor has he been active on game days. Quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Davis Mills have taken all of the snaps.
The former 2017 first-round pick from Clemson signed a four-year, $177.5 million contract with the Texans shortly before the 2020 regular season began. After the Texans fired coach and general manager following an 0-4 start, slid to a 4-12 finish, Houston hired Caserio as general manager on Jan. 5, 2021. Watson requested a trade from the Texans shortly thereafter.
