Texas A&M sophomore receiver Kirk Merritt pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent exposure in a Brazos County courtroom in late March. The charges stem from two incidents that took place last October.
Two women reported two separate incidents involving Merritt that occurred about a day apart. One of the alleged victims claims Merritt exposed and touched himself “while sitting in arm’s reach” of her “on or about” Oct. 24, 2016. The second alleged victim said that Merritt pulled down his shorts and touched himself “while sitting in arm’s reach” of her about a day after the original incident.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the two alleged victims are tutors at the school’s Bright Football complex.
While pleading not guilty to the charges, Merritt did not deny either allegation, but instead, his lawyer provided an interesting excuse. In a statement to the Houston Chronicle attorney Rick Davis explains that his client was dealing with a bad case of jock itch.
“Kirk Merritt has been charged with Indecent Exposure under Section 21.08 of the Texas Penal Code because of two incidents during tutoring sessions that happened on two consecutive days,” said Davis in the statement. “While Kirk is very embarrassed about this situation, and has apologized to the two tutors that he offended, he did not intend to gratify anyone by exposing himself. The fact is that Kirk had a bad case of jock itch.”
Davis went on in the statement to explain that Merritt’s actions now only warrant a disorderly conduct charge, which would be a misdemeanor.
Davis has also requested an arraignment delay in the case.
Merritt has been practicing with the Aggies this spring but sat out the 2016 season after transferring from Oregon.
