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Former Cowboys safety CJ Spillman turned himself in Wednesday morning on a sexual assault charge stemming from an alleged September 2014 attack at the Gaylord Texan resort in Grapevine. The arrest follows a Tarrant County grand jury’s decision to issue an indictment of Spillman on Monday.
The alleged assault was reported on September 20. Despite the Cowboys’ knowledge of the allegation, Spillman was allowed to play against the St. Louis Rams on September 21 and continued to play for the rest of the season. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Spillman was allowed to play because he’d not been charged with a crime.
According to attorney Gloria Allred, who represents the victim of the alleged assault, Spillman was accused in another sexual assault in December 2013 while he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Spillman denied those accusations and has not been charged.
In a statement, Allred criticized the NFL for failing to take action against Spillman.
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“I am very happy that the criminal justice system will now try to move forward to prosecute Mr. Spillman but it is shameful that the NFL has taken no meaningful action in the interim,” she said. “I look forward to the criminal justice system making every effort to make Mr. Spillman accountable for what is alleged in the indictment.”
Spillman is currently a free agent. After turning himself in, he was released from Tarrant County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
