The Waco Tribune-Herald reports that the trial of former Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman, originally scheduled to to begin Aug. 22, will now likely be postponed. Court officials informed the paper of the delay after the former Bears star’s lawyers, Russ Hunt and Michelle Tuegel, filed a motion on Friday asking Judge Ralph Strother to remove them from the case, leaving Oakman without legal representation.
According to the Tribune-Herald, Strother said Oakman’s representation left the case after he failed to pay Hunt and Tuegel’s legal fees. When contacted by the paper, Oakman said he’s “unsure about the state of his legal representation,” declining to comment further on the situation; both lawyers also declined comment. Strother said another hearing will be held to review whether Oakman will independently hire representation or turn to the court to appoint him one.
Oakman is facing a second-degree sexual assault charge stemming from a report filed by a Baylor graduate student who told Waco police she met Oakman at a bar in early April 2016; when they walked back to his duplex, she said he “forced” her into his bedroom and assaulted her. Oakman told police the pair had consensual sex when interviewed. More recently, Oakman made headlines this past fall when he attended a Baylor-Rice football game and joined the Bears in the team locker room after the game.
Oakman is currently out on $50,000 bond; he is one of four former Baylor players facing ongoing sexual assault charges—Myke Chatman and Tre’Von Armstead are involved in a gang rape case; Sam Ukwuachu is awaiting a new trial after an appeals court overturned the result of his initial trial.