Former New Mexico State basketball players charged with sexual assault

Following an investigation by the office of New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, multiple sexual assault charges were filed against former New Mexico State basketball players DeShawndre Washington, Doctor Bradley and Kim Aiken Jr.

The men were indicted by a grand jury and charged in Las Cruces' 3rd Judicial District Court.

All three men were charged with felonies, multiple counts each of criminal sexual contact, false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit criminal sexual contact.

Aiken, Bradley and Washington were also charged with one count each of criminal sexual penetration (aided and abetted by another).

Aiken, Washington and Bradley were among the defendants in a lawsuit that was settled in April alleging sexual assault by teammates during the 2022-23 season. Two former players and a former student manager filed a separate lawsuit on Monday alleging similar behavior, as well as the presence of firearms in the university's locker room.

The New Mexico Attorney General's investigation of the allegations against the three men began in April when the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, which prosecutes cases in Doña Ana County, declined to bring charges. 

The Attorney General's office is also investigating New Mexico State University's response to the alleged assaults in a parallel investigation.

Washington, Bradley and Aiken Jr. no longer reside in New Mexico. Bradley is currently listed as a junior on the Nicholls State men's basketball team in Louisiana. According to a Nov. 8 news release from Nicholls, Bradley was suspended from all team activities.

The three are expected to appear for a preliminary hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Washington, Aiken and Bradley among the defendants in new lawsuit this week

All three men were named as defendants on Monday in a new lawsuit that alleges instances of sexual assault. The victims listed were former player Kyle Feit, another former player and former student manager who were not identified in the lawsuit.

The suit also named current athletic director Mario Moccia, the NMSU Board of Regents, former head coach Greg Heiar and former assistant coach Dominique Taylor as defendants.

The allegations in this lawsuit are similar to the allegations cited in an April lawsuit by former players Shakiru Odunewu and Deuce Benjamin and his father, William Benjamin, which was settled this summer for $8 million.

Jason Groves can be reached at jgroves@lcsun-news.com.