National Football League

Sharper co-defendant: Reggie Bush handed out ecstasy in Vegas

Published Feb. 6, 2015 11:12 p.m. ET

foxsports

The rape case of former NFL player Darren Sharper has twisted around to include accusations that the Detroit Lions' Reggie Bush handed out ecstasy to women and dropped the drug into their drinks at a Las Vegas club in 2011.

The allegations — made to law enforcement authorities by a former sheriff's deputy in Louisiana who is Sharper's co-defendant — drew a strong rebuke from Bush's lawyer along with a threat against the reporters from the New Orleans Advocate who broke the story on Friday.

"This is outrageous," the attorney, Shawn Holley, told the Detroit Free Press on Friday. "I can say to you on the record that Reggie adamantly, vehemently and unequivocally denies all of the statements in that article. We are demanding a retraction from The Advocate and Reggie is considering taking legal action."

The ex-deputy, Brandon Licciardi, has been charged with being part of Sharper's alleged crime of drugging women in order to rape them. Licciardi brought up Bush when the former officer was being questioned last year at the Orleans Parish district attorney's office, the Advocate reported.

Licciardi talked about meeting Bush at a Las Vegas club in 2011 — Bush was coming off his fifth season with the New Orleans Saints, with whom Sharper also played in 2010 — and seeing "Reggie Bush put Molly in Champagne. He was handing out Molly on the dance floor to girls. Handing it out. Like giving it to them."

"Molly" is a reference to MDMA, which induces euphoria as part of the drug ecstasy.

However, Licciardi then went from saying he saw Bush dispensing the drug to telling authorities: "No, I didn't see him put it in the drink. He told me. And he said he was handing it to people." Licciardi also said Bush offered some ecstasy to him, which he turned down.

The Advocate said it obtained transcripts of two interviews Licciardi had with law enforcement authorities.

Among their state and federal charges, Licciardi and Sharper are accused of making use of Ambien, Valium and Xanax "with the intent to commit" rape, as well as rape, human trafficking and battery.