Parents have also filed a civil suit against Aramark and the venue operator as police seek additional witnesses.
HOUSTON, TX — A former NRG Stadium custodial worker has been charged after an 8-year-old boy reported being assaulted inside a men’s restroom during a Houston Texans game on Dec. 14, 2025, according to court filings and police statements. The worker, identified as 21-year-old Ushay Marquise Nixon, was detained at the stadium that day and remains jailed.
Authorities say the case is in its early court stages, with prosecutors alleging an encounter inside a restroom stall during a Texans home game. Nixon is charged with indecency with a child by exposure, and prosecutors outlined an attempted aggravated sexual assault allegation during a recent hearing. Bond in the criminal case was set at $100,000. The family of the boy has also filed a separate civil lawsuit naming Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services of Texas LLC and ASM Global Parent Inc., which manages NRG Park, arguing hiring and supervision decisions placed the child at risk.
Investigators say the incident began when the child left his seat to use the restroom. According to charging records summarized in court, a stadium bathroom attendant followed the boy into a stall and closed the door. The boy unlocked the door and fled. A nearby spectator, who told the parents something “didn’t look right,” helped alert them, the family said. The father returned to the restroom area with the child, who pointed out the attendant. The worker ran into a supply closet, and Houston police detained him minutes later. Detectives later reviewed surveillance video from inside the stadium showing movements consistent with the account, police said. “I wasn’t able to protect him that day, but he protected himself,” the child’s father said. The family has asked for the Good Samaritan to come forward.
Prosecutors identified the suspect in court as Ushay Marquise Nixon, a former Aramark employee assigned to restroom duties at the game. He is charged with indecency with a child by exposure, a felony under Texas law. During a court appearance this week, prosecutors referenced an attempted aggravated sexual assault allegation linked to the same incident. Nixon remained in the Harris County jail Tuesday night. A judge set bond at $100,000 in the indecency case. Police have not released a full timeline of Nixon’s employment at NRG, and it was not immediately clear what background checks were conducted before he was hired. Aramark said the individual “is no longer employed” and that the company is cooperating with investigators. NRG Park said it does not discuss active investigations and emphasized stadium safety procedures developed with law enforcement.
NRG Stadium, home of the Texans, draws crowds of 70,000-plus for NFL games, rodeo events and concerts. In recent years, venue operators in major stadiums have added staff and cameras around restrooms and concourses, though many specifics are kept private for security reasons. Houston police said they are seeking witnesses who were near the men’s restroom on the 100 level around the time of the alleged encounter on Dec. 14. The parents told reporters the experience has changed how their family moves through public spaces. “You could hear the concern in his voice,” the mother said of the bystander who approached them. “He kept saying it didn’t look right.” The family said their son quickly unlocked the stall and ran, a detail they believe limited the harm.
Separate from the criminal case, the parents filed a civil lawsuit in Harris County District Court on Jan. 12, identifying themselves by initials as next friends of their son and naming Aramark, ASM Global Parent and Nixon as defendants. The petition argues the companies failed to screen, train and supervise personnel assigned to stadium restrooms and seeks monetary damages. Because the two prior accusations referenced by prosecutors in court did not proceed when families declined to move forward, it is unknown what, if anything, would have appeared in a standard background check. Neither Aramark nor ASM Global answered detailed questions about hiring protocols beyond their brief statements.
Next steps in the criminal case include a probable cause review already held and scheduling of future hearings in Harris County court. Prosecutors could present the case to a grand jury for any additional charges. Houston police continue to ask the Good Samaritan who alerted the family—and anyone else who may have been near the restroom— to contact investigators. In the civil case, the defendants will be served, and initial responses are expected in the coming weeks, followed by discovery and possible depositions. No trial date has been set.
Outside the stadium this week, fans arriving for off-season events described a mix of shock and support for the family. “You go with your kids to watch a game and trust that basic spaces are safe,” said Miguel Ramirez, a season ticket holder who described NRG as generally well-staffed on game days. A concession worker who asked not to be named said restroom attendants often rotate between sections and typically carry radios to call for supervisors. The parents’ attorney, Anna Greenberg, said the family wants to thank the bystander who spoke up: “A stranger’s concern helped move this quickly. The family wants him to know they heard him.”
As of Wednesday morning, Nixon remained in the Harris County jail on the indecency charge as investigators review additional evidence, including stadium video. Police say the next public update could come after new witness interviews or a scheduled court setting later this month.
Author note: Last updated January 14, 2026.