Bench warrant issued after former NMSU basketball player fails to appear in court for hazing case
Editor's Note: This article had a news clip linked to it. It has been removed due to a graphic falsely stating Deshawndre Washington faced five counts of criminal sexual penetration.
UPDATE (12:50 p.m.): Deshawndre Washington is playing at a basketball tournament in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, ABC-7 learned.
Washington is currently playing overseas at the Decathlon Lebanese Basketball Championship 2025-2026, according to MTV Lebanon Sports.
He signed with Sagesse Sports Club, which is based in Lebanon. According to a post the team, Washington signed with Sagesse in May.
ABC-7 reached out to Washington's attorney about his absence in court.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) -- Monday, former New Mexico State University basketball player Deshawndre Washington failed to appear in court. He faces charges for his alleged role in a 2022-23 hazing case.
Washington was scheduled to stand trial in Las Cruces Monday. Judge Conrad Perea issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The trial will resume when he's in custody. This is the sixth time his trial has been delayed.
In 2023, the New Mexico Attorney General's office charged two other former NMSU men's basketball players with multiple felony sex crimes, according to court documents. Those players were Kim Aiken Jr. and Doctor Bradley.
Aiken Jr. was charged with 11 felonies while Bradley and Washington were charged with 13.
Bradley and Washington pleaded not guilty in November 2023.
Washington would later face two additional charges, totaling 15.
In February 2023, former men's basketball head coach Greg Heiar was fired from NMSU, ABC-7 previously reported.
In November 2023, former NMSU basketball players filed a lawsuit against the university, Washington, Heiar, Aiken Jr., Bradley and other university officials. The lawsuit alleged sexual assault, concerning gun culture and negligence.
The lawsuit named Washington as one of the former players who had a gun. The lawsuit goes on to say that "his gun and the rumors about his prior gun use increased his power over his fellow students and the threat he posed."
