(NewsReady.com) – The NFL’s preseason games are currently underway. The Texans played the New England Patriots in their first preseason match. The game took place just days after charges were filed against a minority owner of the Texas team.
On August 7, news broke that Javier Loya was facing sexual assault allegations in Kentucky. ESPN reported the NFL minority owner is facing five counts of first-degree sexual abuse, one count of first-degree rape, and one count of third-degree sexual abuse. He’d been indicted on May 10 in Jefferson County Circuit Court. On May 15, he pleaded not guilty and posted a $50,000 bond.
Loya’s attorney, Andrew Sarne, spoke to the Houston Chronicle about the charges and said his client “unequivocally and categorically denies” the allegations against him. He vowed to “vigorously defend” Loya in court. He also said his client took a lie detector test and “100% passed” it. Lie detector tests are not admissible in court because they are unreliable.
According to joint reporting from KHOU and The Associated Press, Loya is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women during private parties held at his house in 2022. He reportedly hosted a poker party on May 15, 2022, and hired women from a modeling agency. One of the women working the event claimed the Texans owner and his friends spoke to her inappropriately and touched her without her permission. In one instance, she claims Loya kissed her on her cheek and then put his hands up her dress. Although she tried to pull away, she alleged that he continued to touch her.
The next day, he allegedly held another party at his house and hired more women. Three of the models hired that day accused him of sexually abusing them.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Loya isn’t permitted to take part in any activity and is no longer on any league committees.
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