Doña Ana County judge orders pretrial testimony recorded in ex-NMSU player case

Doña Ana County judge orders pretrial testimony recorded in ex-NMSU player case by Staff Mon, November 9, 2026 at 9:21 PM 3 VIEW ALL PHOTOS Deshawndre Washington. Credit: NMSU Comment on this story 0 Comment Share story Share topics: Deshawndre Washington Doña Ana County Sexual assault Pretrial testimony Gag order Hazing scandal New Mexico State University Kim Aiken LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A Doña Ana County judge has ordered pretrial testimony to be recorded in the sexual assault case against former New Mexico State University basketball player Deshawndre Washington. Washington faces 15 charges, including criminal sexual penetration and false imprisonment, stemming from the alleged hazing scandal during the Aggies’ 2022-23 season. Washington has denied all charges. On Monday, Washington appeared via Zoom as Judge Conrad Perea granted the state’s request to depose two key witnesses, including former teammate Kim Aiken. Prosecutors argued Washington’s return to the United States remains uncertain, and the judge overruled defense objections about jury confrontation rights. Perea also granted a gag order intended to shield potential jurors. Monday's court hearing comes after Washington failed to appear in court for his trial in August over the 15 charges. The trial was previously scheduled for May, but was postponed due to the state and defense teams reviewing new evidence. Washington faces several felony sexual assault charges involving former teammates and managers, stemming from incidents during NMSU's 2023 season. The scandal also resulted in a report by the New Mexico Department of Justice, which concluded that NMSU fostered a "toxic locker room culture" during this period, citing instances in which the university failed to address serious accusations of assault within the basketball program. According to the report, Washington and two other players allegedly subjected teammates to a "humbling" process, forcing them to exercise with their private parts exposed or tackle them and squeeze their genitalia. Washington has denied the allegations, saying it was all "consensual horseplay." "Have we forgotten about horseplay?" said David Mestemaker, one of Washington's attorneys, during a press conference in February 2025. "Have we forgotten about what people do in locker rooms in competitive sports, team sports?" RELATED: No-show: ex-NMSU player misses court as hazing scandal trial was to start RECOMMENDED: Sexual assault trial for ex-NMSU basketball player postponed amid evidence review Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox Trending 1-year-old dies after Lower Valley two-vehicle crash on Alameda Avenue A 16-month-old, Oliver Yepes, died after a two-vehicle crash on Alameda Avenue in El Paso’s Lower Valley, police say. Investigators believe the westbound car failed to yield while turning and hit an eastbound vehicle. Man killed in North Loop crash in the Lower Valley; police seek tips A man was killed in a Friday night crash on North Loop Drive near North Zaragoza in El Paso’s Lower Valley, police say. Investigators believe he was lying in the roadway. EPPD seeks tips as traffic deaths hit 57. 43,000 pounds of fiber-optic cable worth $155,000 recovered in Montana Avenue theft case An El Paso County man was arrested after deputies recovered a shipping container, trailer chassis and approximately 43,000 pounds of fiber-optic cable. El Paso City Council backs bid to host U.S. military's 'Next Great American Base' El Paso City Council OKs bid to host the Pentagon’s Next Great American Base. City says it could bring $4B to $7B in annual economic activity and support 26,000 to 44,000 jobs, with no direct city funding required. First Borderlands Renaissance Faire draws big crowd in El Paso Day one of the Borderlands Renaissance Faire came with a few bumps, including long lines and unexpected weather, but attendees and organizers are looking ahead. NEWS IN PHOTOS: " Local " 3 NEW Supreme Court rules 8-1 to restart Big Bend border wall work despite lawsuit 3 NEW Doña Ana County judge orders pretrial testimony recorded in ex-NMSU player case 4 NEW Project Jupiter air permit hearing postponed; no new date set 4 NEW El Paso High student, family held in ICE custody at Dilley pending immigration hearing