New Mexico DOJ requests deposition for former NMSU players in hazing case

UPDATE (Aug. 25, 2026): According to court documents, Doctor Bradley is now allowed to travel and reside outside of the U.S. He's also been granted a $50,000 appearance bond.

A judge also allowed both the state and Deshawndre Washington to make one public statement to correct any incorrect or misleading information published about his failure to appear in court.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) -- The New Mexico Department of Justice filed a motion Friday requesting motions for depositions for former NMSU men's basketball players Kim Aiken Jr. and Doctor Bradley after Deshawndre Washington missed court Aug. 3.

A deposition is sworn oral testimony given out of a court. It carries the same legal weight as testifying in a courtroom.

The New Mexico Attorney General's Office previously charged Washington, Bradley and Aiken with a combined 37 felony sex crimes tied to a hazing scandal.

Washington delayed his trial by failing to appear in court. He was later seen playing in a basketball tournament in Lebanon. His agency told ABC-7 he had issues returning to the U.S. for court due to conflict in the Middle East.

According to documents, Aiken entered a plea agreement in December 2024 and agreed to testify against his former teammates "in exchange for a guilty plea to lesser charges."

Bradley entered a plea agreement in October 2024 under the same conditions, documents said.

According to documents ABC-7 obtained, the deposition said.

Documents and Aiken and Bradley were ready to testify Aug. 3, but couldn't due to Washington's absence.

The deposition requests cited a rule that said depositions may be taken by agreement of the parties or by the order of the court upon showing it's necessary to take the person's deposition to prevent injustice.

Instead of asking to admit the content of the deposition at trial, NM DOJ is asking to preserve testimony in case the matter proceeds to trial in the future, and the witnesses aren't available for trial.

In the final point, the documents said the counsel for the defendants opposes the relief request.

ABC-7 has reached out to the attorney general's office, the attorneys representing Aiken and Bradley and victims' families for comment.

Of the former player's lawyers, Aiken's lawyer was the only to respond with the following statement:

"Mr. Aiken is ready to testify in whatever way is helpful."

Another attorney who spoke to ABC-7 was Joleen Youngers, who represents clients related to the scandal still involved in civil cases that have 2027 court dates.

Youngers told ABC-7 the multiple delays for the Washington trial have sometimes meant there have been times she has told people involved in her case traveling to New Mexico they have to turn back.

Another point Youngers discussed was the mental impact, saying she couldn't discuss specifics of her cases or clients but did say 'they would love to have it in the rear view mirror.'