A former Coastal Carolina University basketball standout, Nadjrick Peat, now faces a cascade of legal accusations that could reshape his future. The charges, totaling 22 counts, include first‑degree sexual exploitation of a minor and were filed after a forensic analysis of Peat’s phone uncovered multiple files that appear to depict a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Defense Motions and Legal Strategy
Peat’s attorneys have lodged motions asserting that the prosecution is pursuing the case selectively, pointing to inconsistencies in how similar allegations have been handled across jurisdictions. They argue that the evidence does not meet the threshold for the most serious counts and that procedural errors warrant dismissal.
According to the prosecution, the files discovered on Peat’s device provide a basis for the exploitation charge, but the defense contends that the alleged victim, a 17‑year‑old freshman, misrepresented her age and that the relationship was consensual. They maintain that the encounter was not coerced and that the charges do not reflect the reality of the interaction.
The legal battle has already taken a toll on Peat’s professional trajectory. The arrest resulted in the loss of a lucrative name, image and likeness (NIL) deal and derailed a planned professional basketball contract in Europe, underscoring the personal and financial stakes beyond the courtroom.
Judge Benjamin Culbertson has scheduled the trial for the week of September 14. Peat was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on May 28 and released the same day on a $10,000 bond, pending further proceedings.