The sexual assault lawsuit filed against NBA veteran Dwight Howard has been officially dismissed. The lawsuit was originally filed by Stephen Harper in July 2023, who has since dropped all claims against Howard with prejudice. This development marks the end of a legal journey that began when Harper reported the incident to Gwinnett County police in 2022.
Allegations and Evidence
Harper had claimed that he and Howard had exchanged messages via Instagram and agreed to meet for a sexual encounter at Howard's residence. According to Harper, another individual identified as "Kitty" was also present during this meeting. Harper alleged that both Howard and "Kitty" forced him into unwanted sexual activity. To support his claims, Harper provided screenshots of his Instagram conversations with Howard as well as an Uber receipt confirming his travel to Howard's residence.
Police Involvement
Despite these allegations, Harper never gave a formal interview to the police, leading to the suspension of the case by the authorities. Ultimately, the police decided not to pursue further criminal charges against Howard. This left the matter to be settled through civil litigation, which has now concluded with the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Legal Proceedings
In December 2023, Howard's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. By February 2024, a judge had declined to dismiss the case, prolonging the legal battle. However, with Harper now dropping all claims, the matter comes to a close.
Howard's Response
Throughout the case, Dwight Howard maintained his innocence. In an Instagram Live broadcast in October 2023, Howard stated, "Stop worrying about it. I ain't gotta deny it; I don't gotta talk about none of that crap. This s--- didn't even happen. You worried about the wrong stuff. That's why it's called an accusation. Allegedly. Come on, man."
Career Highlights
Dwight Howard, currently 38 years old, has had an illustrious career in the NBA. He was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Over the years, he earned eight All-Star selections and won an NBA title in 2020 during his second stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Howard's most recent NBA appearance was in 2022 with the Lakers. He is currently playing for the Taiwan Mustangs, continuing to contribute to the sport.
As the legal chapter closes, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Dwight Howard, both on and off the court. For now, his focus seems to be thriving in his current role and putting the past controversies behind him.