A former independent professional wrestler has been convicted on multiple counts of inappropriate contact with a minor.
John Washington, also known as Owen Travers, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted lewdness with a child under 16 in May. Washington was first charged with sexual assault against a child by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in November 2020. Washington was working as a volunteer coach for Future Stars of Wrestling, where he also wrestled, at the time of his arrest.
Washington was sentenced in court this week. Washington entered an “Alford plea” in court, which means he only admits the prosecutors have enough evidence against him but did not admit to the guilty action(s) itself.
He will avoid jail time due to a suspended sentence, but he will be on probation for a term “not to exceed five years” and he is required register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Washington was also ordered to continue his house arrest for at least six more months. One of the parents asked for jail time, but Washington petitioned that he remain on probation to continue caring for his sick mother.
John Washington was first investigated by police after a parent reported his teenage daughter said she’d been assaulted by him in 2017. A second woman told police she was assaulted by Washington before a wrestling event in 2015.
One of the women that Washington assaulted addressed him in court at the sentencing, appearing via video call.
“You took away my chance to enjoy wrestling,” she said in response to Washington. “You took away my chance to enjoy performing, you took so much from me.”
