The parents of an 8-year-old boy have filed a lawsuit against the man accused of sexually assaulting their child at a Houston Texans game last month, along with the food, beverage and housekeeping provider at NRG Stadium and the company that manages the stadium and surrounding complex.
According to the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Harris County, the family of the victim accuses Ushay Marquise Nixon, 21, of assailing the boy during a Dec. 14 football game at NRG Stadium. Nixon, beverage and housekeeping provider Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services of Texas, LLC, and NRG Park managing company ASM Global Parent Inc. are listed as defendants in the lawsuit, which seeks monetary damages as well as court costs.
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Nixon, who worked for Aramark at the time, is also facing criminal charges of indecency with a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to Harris County court records. The Houston Police Department, in a Tuesday social media post, said it wanted to speak with anyone who might have information about the alleged crime.
“This case is every parent’s worst nightmare,” attorney Anna Greenberg, who is representing the boy’s family, said in a statement. “An 8-year-old boy went to his first NFL game expecting excitement and joy, and instead he was targeted by an employee who never should have been allowed anywhere near children.”
Nixon is alleged to have approached the boy in a bathroom before locking him into a stall with him and attempting to assault him, according to court documents, which show the boy then rushed out of the stall back to his parent, who was waiting outside the bathroom.
According to the lawsuit, a “good Samaritan” witnessed the incident in the bathroom and alerted the boy’s parent. The boy then pointed out Nixon as the alleged assailant, causing Nixon to run away, court documents state.
The lawsuit claims that Aramark was negligent in hiring Nixon because he had previously been charged with indecency with a child and indecent assault. Nixon was charged with those crimes in 2022, according to Harris County court records, which show the charges were later dismissed.
In a statement to Houston Public Media on Tuesday, an Aramark spokesperson said the company was aware of the “very disturbing situation” and that Nixon was no longer employed with the company. The spokesperson also said the company was fully cooperating with authorities.
The lawsuit accuses ASM of not adequately protecting the 8-year-old boy while he was on the company’s property. ASM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nixon’s defense attorney in the criminal case did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An attorney for him in the civil case was not listed in online court records as of Tuesday.