Maurice Washington: The Trials and Tribulations of the Former Nebraska Running Back
Maurice Washington, the prized running back of the University of Nebraska Huskers, was on an upward trajectory and a future in the NFL beckoned for him.
Author:Emily SanchezReviewer:James PierceAug 17, 2020107K Shares1.5M Views
Maurice Washington, the prized running back of the University of Nebraska Huskers, was on an upward trajectory and a future in the NFL beckoned for him. However, Maurice Washington stumbled on the way and got himself involved in a messy situation which resulted in him being sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation. Let's find out more about the situation.
What Happened To Maurice Washington?
Former Nebraska running back Maurice Washington was sentenced to a month in jail and two years of probation after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor in a California court case alleging he sent a 10-second video of a sex act to the girl who was in the video.
In exchange for the no contest plea, prosecutors dropped the felony charge Washington faced.
The Santa Clara County Jail website showed the 20 year old football star in custody at a minimum security facility. His release date was listed as March 20th. In addition to the probation, Washington was ordered to have no contact with the woman in the video.
The plea deal ended more than a year of delayed hearings, 10 in total, since charges were filed against him in February 2019.
What Charges Were Filed Against Maurice Washington?
The charges stemmed from a text Washington sent in March 2018 to an ex-girlfriend. Authorities said the text included an old video of the girl, then 15, performing oral sex. Washington did not record the video and was not there when the video was recorded.
In the spring of 2018, Washington, then 18, had begun texting with the girl after he signed to play for the Huskers, according to an affidavit. The conversations turned sexual, but the girl told Washington she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship. He became "angry and mean," the affidavit said.
On March 2, 2018, the girl said, she received a text message from Washington saying, "Remember this hoe," with the 10-second sexual video of the girl attached, according to the affidavit.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office began to investigate after the girl and her family filed a report.
Investigators attempted to contact Washington throughout the fall of 2018 but were unable to reach him. They eventually spoke to Jon Bruning, a former Nebraska attorney general, Husker booster and lawyer whom they said purported to represent the Nebraska athletic department. Bruning later denied that he claimed to represent the athletic department and was only representing Washington. Bruning was put in contact with Washington through football program staff.
Washington was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor. The felony charge was the possession of a video of a person under 18 engaging in or simulating sexual conduct. The misdemeanor charge was sharing a recording without the person's consent.
If he had been convicted of both charges, he would have faced up to two years in jail, a $4,500 fine, or both if he hadn't entered a plea bargain.
What Did The University Of Nebraska Say About The Issue?
The NU athletic department denied knowing about the nature of the investigation until February 2019, days before Washington was officially charged. University officials later said they were satisfied with how the situation was handled.
Did Maurice Washington Miss Games Because Of The Issue?
Maurice Washington sat out the spring game that April. Husker coach Scott Frost said at the preseason Big Ten media days that he would wait and see what happened in the criminal case before making any final determinations about Washington's future with the program.
"(W)e won't make any decisions on (team) status or anything until we know that his legal problems are over," Frost said. "And I don't want to guess on which way we'll land depending on what happens."
Frost did still allow Washington to play in seven games in the 2019 season despite the pending California case, though Washington was suspended for the first half of the season opener as punishment for that case. He also was suspended for the first half of the Northwestern game on Oct. 5 for a separate violation of team rules.
Washington totaled 298 rushing yards and 162 receiving yards during the season with three touchdowns, including a 75-yard reception in the Colorado game.
Will Maurice Washington Be Able To Play For The Huskers Again?
On October 21st, Frost announced that he had removed Washington from the team, citing Husker standards that Washington didn't uphold.
Maurice Washington was officially removed from the Huskers'' roster in January. The reason floated by Frost was that "Washington couldn't mesh with Nebraska's culture." Prior to the issue with the young woman, Maurice Washington had been in some more legal trouble. During the offseason, he was cited by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln police on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia.
In October, Frost was more hopeful about the situation with Maurice Washington being resolved. This is what he said in October: "There always comes to a point where you have to throw your hands up and say 'We tried,' but, until then, we want to do what's right for them, because I think that's the right thing to do. And we've certainly tried to do everything we can for Mo. And hopefully it works out well." Sadly, it didn't and Washingon was dismissed from the team.
What Does The Future Hold For Maurice Washington?
After his dismissal from the University of Nebraska Huskers, Maurice Washington has entered the NCAA transfer portal. He has two years of eligibility left and he can use them within three years (with one season being redshirted) if he is able to get enrolled in some other school's program. It's a sad situation for the promising young player who will now carry the burden of this misdemeanour for the rest of his life. Let's hope it doesn't ruin his life and career completely. People have come back strong from much worse, hopefully, Maurice Washington will be able to do the same.
Jump to
What Happened To Maurice Washington?
What Charges Were Filed Against Maurice Washington?
What Did The University Of Nebraska Say About The Issue?
Did Maurice Washington Miss Games Because Of The Issue?
Will Maurice Washington Be Able To Play For The Huskers Again?
What Does The Future Hold For Maurice Washington?
Emily Sanchez
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James Pierce
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