State Department requested charge dropped “because it was complicating extradition process”
A felony charge against former New Mexico State University basketball player Deshawndre Washington for failing to appear in court has been dismissed after a request by the State Department.
On Aug. 3, a Las Cruces judge issued a bench warrant for Washington after he failed to appear for the start of his criminal trial.
Washington has pleaded not guilty to charges related to hazing incidents during his time at NMSU.
Video first aired on KOAT shows Washington playing basketball in Lebanon on the same day his trial began. His agent said Washington did not return to New Mexico because Interpol had taken his passport. He has been a fugitive from justice ever since.
On Oct. 27, a grand jury indicted Washington on a felony charge for failing to appear in court.
“The fact that there was an indictment of the failure-to-appear felony indicates the attorney general wanted to throw the book at him for not showing up,” KOAT legal expert John Day said.
This week, the New Mexico Department of Justice dismissed the failure-to-appear charge after a request by the State Department.
The DOJ said the charge was dismissed “because it was complicating the extradition process.”
Day also commented on the dismissal, saying, “The fact they dismissed it now might suggest that they are working with the State Department to try to get him extradited, and for some reason the fact there’s a new charge complicated this.”
