Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward is now facing both criminal and civil proceedings after new allegations were filed in Harris County this week. The civil lawsuit, brought by the mother of his young child, accuses the 34-year-old defensive back of repeated domestic violence and sexual assault, including one incident where she claims he was under the influence of methamphetamine. She is seeking damages exceeding $20 million.
Court filings describe instances of choking, slapping, and threats, as well as an episode where the woman says she fled their home injured and unclothed while carrying their child before calling police. Ward was previously arrested on felony domestic violence charges in June and is set to go before a grand jury on August 31. After posting bond, he was arrested a second time for allegedly violating release terms by contacting the accuser and testing positive for alcohol.
Ward’s attorney has said their priority is the criminal case, expressing hope it will be resolved by the grand jury before addressing the civil claims. The Texans and the NFL have not issued detailed statements, though the league is reviewing the matter under its personal conduct policy.
