OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Star Nebraska Cornhusker running back Maurice Washington, a San Jose native, faces criminal child porn and "revenge porn" charges under California state law in relation to a video of his then 15-year-old ex-girlfriend allegedly being sexually assaulted.
According to an initial statement from Washington's lawyer, John C. Ball, Washington did not make the video, nor does he appear in the video. The incident is alleged to have occurred in California "several years ago." Washington is reportedly cooperating fully with authorities.
A Bay Area NBC station says Washington is accused of keeping the video on his phone and sending it to the victim last March. Because the victim was 15 when the video was recorded, he is also facing charges of distribution of child pornography, which is a felony.
According to the Santa Clara district attorney, authorities are in the process of issuing a warrant for Washington's arrest.
Read a statement from the Nebraska Athletic Department below:
“Last fall we were contacted by the Nebraska Attorney General’s office and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln police department and made aware that officials in California were interested in interviewing Maurice Washington about a prior incident. Details were not shared and there was no additional follow up with the Nebraska Athletic Department. Recently, we were made aware that charges may be filed against Maurice in California. We have not had a chance to review the charges, and will continue to monitor this ongoing legal process.”
A second statement from Washington's lawyer has been released:
"The narrative put forth today is that Mr. Washington used a video as a weapon to re-victimize his former high school girlfriend. That is not true. Without a doubt, Mr. Washington had absolutely nothing to do with that sexual assault. The communications between these two young people are yet to be fully determined, and there are additional facts and circumstances that give context and perspective to this situation."
