A warrant was issued for Washington after he missed the start of his criminal trial. He remains in Lebanon
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Deshawndre Washington, a fugitive wanted in New Mexico, remains in Lebanon, where his agent claims he is unable to leave due to passport complications.
The New Mexico Department of Justice confirmed Washington’s fugitive status. His father and agent stated that he is currently in Lebanon, and a social media post shows Washington played in a basketball game there on Oct. 1, leading the game in assists.
On Aug. 3, a Las Cruces judge issued a bench warrant for Washington after he failed to appear for the start of his trial. Washington faces charges of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact, false imprisonment, and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty. Those charges are related to hazing incidents during his time at NMSU.
Video first aired on KOAT shows Washington on the basketball court the same day he was supposed to appear in a Las Cruces courtroom. At the time, his management team released a statement saying, “It was a regional security issue that disrupted travel and prevented his return to the US.”
Three weeks later, Washington’s agent provided a different explanation, saying, “Mr. Washington is not back in the United States because he doesn’t have his passport.”
The agent claims that Interpol took Washington’s passport, preventing him from leaving Lebanon.
KOAT legal expert John Day said, “Which is curious, because if a law enforcement agency does have his passport, why are they keeping it? And why are they not letting him come back to the US?”
The New Mexico Department of Justice is prosecuting the case.
“They’re going to be trying everything they can to try to get him back into the country, working with the U.S. government,” said
Day.
A hearing is scheduled for November to address several defense motions, including a motion to dismiss the case over alleged prosecutorial misconduct.
