Dwight Howard, the former NBA star, has fervently denied allegations of sexual assault made by a Georgia man, Stephen Harper, who filed a state civil lawsuit against Howard in July. The lawsuit includes accusations of assault and battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Importantly, it’s essential to note that as of now, no criminal charges have been brought against Dwight Howard in relation to this case.
In response to these grave allegations, Howard’s attorney has described the encounter, which took place in 2021 at Howard’s Atlanta suburban home, as consensual. The defense team has made a request for the case’s dismissal. Follow your favourite basketball team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet, one of the best basketball gambling sites.
According to Harper’s lawsuit, the two men initially connected through Instagram, engaging in explicit text conversations. They ultimately planned to meet at Howard’s residence on July 19, 2021.
During Harper’s journey to Howard’s home in Gwinnett County, he claims to have received a text from Howard, inquiring whether another individual could join their intended sexual encounter. Harper asserts that he declined the request.
Upon arriving at Howard’s residence, Harper alleges that they were joined by a person dressed as a woman, referred to as “Kitty.” Harper asserts that he resisted the advances of the two men, but Howard and Kitty allegedly forced him into engaging in sexual activities.
The lawsuit states, “Mr. Harper was trapped in Defendant’s bedroom and believed that he would suffer imminent bodily harm if he resisted Defendant’s sexual advances.” Afterward, Harper reportedly felt violated, humiliated, and in a state of shock.
In his response, Howard vehemently refuted these allegations, contending that the encounter was consensual and conspired by all three individuals involved. Howard has requested a summary judgment, along with a plea for court costs and attorney fees to be imposed on Harper.
It’s important to acknowledge that, as is customary, the Associated Press does not typically reveal the identities of sexual assault victims unless they have given their explicit consent to be named publicly.
Harper reported the alleged assault to Gwinnett County police nearly a year after the incident, on July 15, 2022. Subsequent to the initial report, attempts were made to arrange a formal interview with Harper, but these efforts were reportedly hampered due to a lack of participation from the alleged victim, as per the police incident report.
Dwight Howard, at 37 years old, boasts an impressive basketball career that spans 18 years. He is an eight-time NBA All-Star and a three-time defensive player of the year. Known for his dominance on the court, Howard spent time with seven different NBA franchises, including the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he secured his sole NBA title during the 2019-20 season.
However, Howard’s career was also marked by his reputation as a disruptive presence in locker rooms, leading to his tenure with multiple teams over his final six seasons in the league. His last NBA season was in 2021-22, after which he played in Taiwan during the 2022-2023 season. Get the latest updates from the world of basketball only on Nextbet Sports.
