Tia Jones, the woman who accused Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy of felony assault last week, had a temporary protective order against Worthy granted by a Texas judge on Wednesday, Jones’ attorneys confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday.
In recent days, law enforcement has continued interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence, Jones’ lawyer, Angelica Cogliano, said Thursday. Jones — who was willing to be named publicly — spoke with a detective for close to three hours Wednesday, and provided text messages, photographs, recordings, and medical records, the attorney said.
Cogliano added that any claims of the investigation being closed are “patently false.” The protective order will remain in place until a hearing is held April 1.
“Our evidence speaks for itself,” Cogliano said in an email. “And it will speak far louder than the cruel and false attacks coming from Mr. Worthy’s team. Ms. Jones is anxious for that day to come.”
Worthy continues to deny each allegation made by Jones, his representation, attorneys Sam Bassett and Chip Lewis, told The Athletic on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, false allegations continue to be made, this time in civil court,” Bassett wrote in an email. “Today, the accuser returned items stolen from Mr. Worthy’s residence while he was in jail and there are items still missing from when he was incarcerated. Mr. Worthy maintains his innocence and stands by the conclusions of the district attorney after law enforcement’s review of Ms. Jones’ unfounded allegations.”
In response to the claim about stolen items, Cogliano said, “I wish we could respond to any and all of the vicious false attacks on her character that have come from his attorneys this past week” but later added “we will not be baited into compromising the integrity of the criminal investigation by law enforcement, or the civil court proceedings we initiated yesterday.”
News of the protective order comes less than one week after Worthy was arrested last Friday on a criminal charge of assault against a family or household member by impeding their breathing or circulation. On Saturday, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office records listed the charges as dismissed/declined, and Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said his office was declining charges “at this time” after speaking with witnesses, according to The Associated Press.
On Saturday, the Chiefs issued a statement saying the team is aware of the incident and is “gathering information.” The NFL also released a statement Saturday saying the league is “aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club.”
Williamson County is located just north of Austin, where Worthy, 21, was a standout receiver at the University of Texas. The Chiefs selected Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he posted 638 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. In the postseason, he put up 287 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs won the AFC Championship before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
