Report: Marcus Watson Will Not Face Criminal Charges

Payne County District Attorney's office will not pursue criminal charges against Oklahoma State freshman guard Marcus Watson
Oklahoma State Athletics

STILLWATER -- Following multiple reports, Oklahoma State freshman guard Marcus Watson will not face criminal charges following a protective order being filed against him for an alleged rape in October. It was first reported by Marshall Scott of Pistols Firing.

In an interview with The O'Colly, assistant district attorney Debra Vincent said that the decision was made on Oct. 20 after the Oklahoma State University police department shared information from their investigation. The Payne County DA's office also spoke with the sexual assault nurse examiner, and that also went into the decision.

"Based upon all that, there was not sufficient evidence to meet our burden of proof and file a criminal charge," Vincent said.

Watson will still have to appear in court on Nov. 26 regarding the restraining order that was filed in the Payne County Courthouse, and will likely be facing a Title IX investigation by Oklahoma State.

"That decision doesn't have anything to do with the protective order or anything that Student Conduct or Title IX might do," Vincent said. "Those are completely separate from our decision-making."

Watson was suspended following the filing of the protective order on Oct. 21, and still remains suspended from the team.

Watson, a 6-6, 215-poind freshman out of Buford, GA. Out of high school, Watson was considered a consensus four-star prospect, and was listed as the No. 45 overall prospect and the No. 8 shooting guard in the 2019 class.

Oklahoma State will face Kansas City in Stillwater on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and you can catch the radio broadcast on the Cowboy Radio Network.


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