Demerio Houston is no longer with the Calgary Stampeders.
A year after becoming the Canadian Football League club’s prized pick-up in free agency, the defensive back has been released by the franchise amid a 3DownNation report he faces a misdemeanour domestic violence charge in North Carolina.
“Honestly, just as an organization, we decided to go in a different direction,” Stampeders GM and head coach Dave Dickenson said when asked about the team’s decision to cut him early Wednesday — the second day of CFL free agency.
“We wish him well,” continued Dickenson, of Houston. “But we’re excited with the guys we brought in.
“It’s a tough business we’re all in, but we felt we needed to go in a different direction.”
That is to distance themselves away from the legal hot water Houston is in …
A wise decision given the circumstances.
What is the situation with Houston?
According to the report by 3DownNation’s JC Abbott, the 28-year-old Houston is accused of assaulting his wife during an argument in November.
He’s “alleged to have hit her in the face with a suitcase,” wrote Abbott. “A warrant for Houston’s arrest was issued by the Mecklenburg District Court later that day, citing the seriousness of the offence, risk of escape, and the danger of injury to person or property.
“The issuing magistrate wrote the accused had a history of domestic violence against the victim but she had previously been afraid to come forward,” due to “physical, mental, and emotional” abuse.
“Houston was arrested shortly after midnight (the day after the alleged crime) on November 22, 2024, by Gastonia Police Department officials … and was released two days later on a written promise to appear, with the condition that he does not assault, threaten, or harass the alleged victim.”
If found guilty in court, Houston faces a maximum sentence of 150 days in jail plus a fine and probation. That’s the Class A1 misdemeanour penalty for domestic violence charges in North Carolina.
Houston joined the Stamps last off-season after an all-star campaign in 2023 — highlighted by his lead of the league in interceptions, with seven in just 15 games — with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He was brought in to be a difference-maker at the boundary corner position and was that early in the season, but struggled at times in the back-half of the calendar. Houston finished with five interceptions and 74 defensive tackles — both healthy figures — and a forced fumble.
The hope was he would leave more of an impression in his second season with the Stampeders — but his legal issues forced the team to look elsewhere.