Buffalo Bills first-round pick Maxwell Hairston is facing a civil lawsuit filed in Ohio, accusing him of sexually assaulting a fellow student in 2021 while they attended the University of Kentucky.
The plaintiff, Rebecca Hendryx, claims in the lawsuit filed Tuesday that Hairston entered her dorm room uninvited and assaulted her after she repeatedly rejected his advances. Hendryx alleges Hairston forcefully removed her pajama shorts and engaged in non-consensual intercourse.
Hairston has not been charged with a crime, and neither he nor his representatives have responded to media requests. The Bills declined to comment on the lawsuit, instead referring to general manager Brandon Beane’s remarks in April, when the team selected Hairston 30th overall in the NFL Draft. At the time, Beane said the organization “fully investigated” the 2021 allegation and described Hairston as “an impeccable kid.”
According to the complaint, Hendryx reported the incident to law enforcement within hours and received a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) exam. The lawsuit does not state the outcome of the police report or the medical examination. Hendryx’s attorneys said certain documents are confidential and could not be shared.
Local authorities have yet to confirm any matching police report. A University of Kentucky spokesperson declined to comment on specifics but said that any sexual assault allegations are thoroughly reviewed through appropriate channels, including police and Title IX processes.
Hendryx withdrew from the university later in 2021. The case is now moving forward in civil court as Hairston prepares for his rookie NFL season.
Photo: Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
