KUSA - According to the Fort Bend County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, the child abuse investigation of Broncos defensive lineman Antonio Smith is sexual in nature.
No charges against Smith have been filed.
"In November 2014, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office received a complaint of a criminal allegation against Antonio Smith," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "According to Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls, the allegation against Mr. Smith was sexual in nature. The Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division conducted a thorough investigation and presented the information to the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office for review in February, 2015."
Two months later, the Broncos signed Smith to a one-year, $2 million contract. Only his $500,000 signing bonus is fully guaranteed, providing there are no violations of the league's personal conduct policy.
"Last night, we became aware for the first time of an allegation involving Antonio Smith," the Broncos said in a statement. "We are now in the process of gathering more information."
Now that the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office has turned over its findings of the case, it's up to District Attorney John Healey Jr. to determine how to proceed. Options include calling on a Grand Jury to hear evidence of the case, or dismiss it.
"Our Sheriff's Office has received some information, they're working with our office to try and find out as much information as we can about the allegation," Healey Jr. told 9News. "At this particular point anything in reference to Mr. Smith is just that -- an allegation."
Smith, an 11-year NFL veteran, was raised in Oklahoma City and played at Oklahoma State before he was selected in the fifth round of the 2004 draft by the Arizona Cardinals. After five seasons with the Cardinals, he played the next five with the Houston Texans from 2009-13.
Smith, 33, played for the Oakland Raiders last season before signing his one-year deal with the Broncos, where he became reunited with former Texans' coaches Gary Kubiak and Bill Kollar. Kubiak is now the Broncos' head coach and Kollar is his defensive line coach.
Broncos players were dismissed for the holiday weekend following their workout Wednesday.
Smith has two children. He and his sister Antwonette Smith started the Little People with Big Challenges charitable foundation in Sugarland, Texas with a mission of fighting childhood obesity. He said during a press conference at Broncos headquarters earlier this month that he had extended family living in the Denver-area.
"They were actually among the first I called once I knew I was signing," Smith said on Mary 11. "They've been ecstatic. I spent the day with my cousin yesterday and I don't think there was one moment of silence. The whole time we were talking about next season and how excited everybody was that I'm finally a Bronco.''
Fort Bend County, Texas includes the southwest suburbs of the Houston metropolis. About an hour drive north is Spring, Texas, where a year ago NFL star running back Adrian Peterson allegedly punished his 4-year-old son by striking him with a tree branch. Peterson was charged with a felony child-abuse although he later pleaded no contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge that resulted in a $4,000 fine, community service and probation but no jail time.
The NFL nevertheless suspended Peterson indefinitely, although he was reinstated upon appeal in February.
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