Eric Gay/AP
Texans safety Jimmie Ward celebrates a game-winning interception in the end zone against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward has been sued by the mother of their 3-year-old son, who accuses the football player of physically and sexually assaulting her multiple times over the last several months – in some cases while allegedly under the influence of drugs.
Cristy West, who is being represented by prominent Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Harris County. She is seeking $20 million in damages.
Among other incidents, the lawsuit cites an April encounter in which Ward allegedly assaulted West inside of his Galleria-area townhome. It also cites a June incident at West’s home in Montgomery County, where she suspected Ward of being high on crystal meth while he allegedly “slapped West across the face, choked her, and dragged her into a bedroom of the house.”
Ward, 34, was arrested by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and charged with assault family violence impeding breath/circulation, a third-degree felony, in the aftermath of the latter alleged incident. The criminal case is pending.
“These assaults have left [West] physically injured and psychologically traumatized,” the lawsuit states. “Ward thinks that because he is an NFL superstar that he is above the law. He is not.”
As of Thursday, a defense attorney for Ward was not listed in the online court record for the lawsuit filed in Harris County.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans addressed the accusations against Ward during a news conference Thursday.
“With Jimmie, I know there are a lot of allegations,” Ryans said. “We don’t know the true story of all those and I hate to jump to rush judgment on any situation. We’ll let it play itself out, let whatever has to happen in the court system, let that play out.”
Ward has played 11 seasons in the NFL and two with the Texans. He was a first-round draft pick for the San Francisco 49ers out of Northern Illinois University and has started 99 of the 126 regular-season games in which he has played.