Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward is the subject of a new domestic assault lawsuit filed Wednesday by the mother of his 3-year-old child.
Ward, who is entering his 12th season and has played for the Texans since 2023, is accused of sexually and physically assaulting Cristy West, with whom he shares a son. The lawsuit alleges Ward attacked West at his home in Montgomery County, Texas, in April, then again in June.
According to the suit, Ward “lured” West to his townhouse in April, “under the pretense of giving her money for their son’s karate lessons.” During the visit, Ward allegedly cornered West and sexually assaulted her by forcing her to touch his genitals and demanding she perform sexual acts. West said she screamed and escaped Ward’s home.
Three months later, on June 12, Ward allegedly forced his way into West’s home, and she suspected he was under the influence of methamphetamine, or crystal meth. West said she had previously seen Ward take the drug and that he had been violent with her in the past while intoxicated.
The lawsuit says that Ward then forced West into a bedroom, hit her, choked her, threatened to kill her and forced her to perform oral sex. The violence continued throughout the night, West alleges, and woke up their son, who began crying.
After Ward assaulted West, he allegedly began searching her phone and accusing her of speaking with other men. At that point, West said she fled her home with her son and called 911 while standing naked in the street.
Police arrested Ward soon after and charged him with felony family assault. Ward was released from the Montgomery County Jail on $30,000 bond, according to the Houston Chronicle, but West said in the lawsuit that he has continued to contact her in violation of his bond agreement.
“We are aware of the report involving Jimmie Ward,” Omar Majzoub, the Texans’ senior director of communications, said in a statement following Ward’s arrest. “We are gathering more information and have no further comment at this time.”
Ward was arrested again on Aug. 7 after allegedly testing positive for alcohol, another violation of his bond. At the time, Ward’s attorney, Stephen Jackson, told Houston’s NBC affiliate that Ward spent the night in jail and did not know he was not able to drink.
“It is our intention at this time to focus on the criminal allegations and the upcoming grand jury hearing in hopes of the criminal matter being dismissed,” Jackson said in an email to The Athletic. Jackson confirmed the grand jury hearing is set for the first week of September.
The Texans and the NFL have not responded to requests for comment.
Court records show West sought a protective order against Ward on July 3, but cancelled her request on July 16.
“The lawsuit speaks for itself,” West’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, said in an email to The Athletic. West’s lawsuit seeks more than $20 million in damages.
Buzbee has brought multiple sexual assault lawsuits against high-profile figures in the past, including recent cases against Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. He was also one of several attorneys who represented alleged victims of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Ward was a first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2014 and spent nine seasons with the franchise before signing with the Texans in 2023. He signed a one-year extension with the team last season, but suffered a season-ending injury that required surgery.
The Texans placed him on the physically unable to perform list during this year’s training camp due to a foot injury, and he is still listed as inactive.
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)