A lawsuit alleging sexual assault against Dwight Howard has been withdrawn, according to court records in Gwinnett County, GA. The civil suit, filed by a man named Stephen Harper in July of 2023, accused Howard of sexual assault and battery.
Howard’s attorneys informed ESPN that Harper was not compensated to drop the lawsuit. Harper voluntarily dismissed all claims against Howard with prejudice, preventing him from filing a similar suit in the future.
In Harper’s complaint, he claimed that he communicated with Howard on Instagram and agreed to meet at Howard’s residence for a sexual encounter. Upon arrival, Harper alleged another man named “Kitty” was present, and both individuals coerced him into engaging in sexual activities. Harper provided screenshots of the Instagram conversation and an Uber receipt to Howard’s residence on the night of the incident.
Although Harper initially reported the alleged assault to Gwinnett County police in 2022, he did not provide a formal statement, leading to the suspension of the case. No criminal charges have been brought against Howard.
Howard’s legal team accused Harper of attempting to extort money from their client in a statement to ESPN in October 2023. Howard himself denied the allegations in an Instagram Live broadcast the same month, dismissing the claims as baseless.
In December 2023, Howard’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it was frivolous and rooted in unrequited love. Despite this, a judge declined to dismiss the suit in February.
Howard, now 38, most recently competed for the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook. His last NBA appearance was in 2022 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Prior to his recent ventures, Howard was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Throughout his career, he was an eight-time All-Star and secured an NBA championship in 2020 during his tenure with the Lakers.
paragraph in a more concise manner:
The car was speeding down the highway, weaving in and out of traffic and narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles. The driver seemed reckless and unconcerned with the safety of themselves or others on the road.