E. Javier Loya, a minority stakeholder in the Texans, settled a legal matter in Kentucky with a $100 fine for a misdemeanor charge of harassment involving physical contact. This agreement followed the dismissal of more serious charges of rape and abuse by Kentucky prosecutors, as stated by his lawyer, Andrew J. Sarne. Sarne’s statement, conveyed through a spokesperson on Monday, clarified that Loya accepted a charge of “harassment with intent to annoy,” categorized as a class B misdemeanor, while all seven counts he was facing were dropped by prosecutors.
Loya, reputedly owning less than 1% of the Texans, had faced severe allegations, including first-degree rape and sexual abuse charges, stemming from events after parties at his Louisville residence in 2022, involving several hired models. Despite maintaining his innocence, Loya and his family underwent considerable distress during this legal process, as highlighted by Sarne. Nonetheless, Sarne emphasized Loya’s continued faith in the legal system, notwithstanding the intense public scrutiny and prejudgment he faced before due process.
Reportedly, Loya entered an Alford plea, affirming his innocence while acknowledging the sufficiency of evidence for a potential guilty verdict. This plea resulted in a negotiated 90-day prison sentence, which will be waived upon two years of good behavior, according to WDRB-TV in Louisville. Prosecutors cited “evidentiary issues” as grounds for dismissing the charges, although Loya admitted to subjecting the victim to unwanted physical contact, with one woman alleging he touched her inappropriately.
The potential consequences within the NFL’s personal conduct policy and Loya’s future involvement with the Texans remain uncertain. Loya, who co-founded OTC Global Holdings and has been a part-owner of the Texans since their inception in 2002, faces ambiguity regarding his role in the team’s ownership going forward.
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