In a shocking turn of events, renowned opera star David Daniels and his husband, Scott Walters, pleaded guilty to charges of sexually assaulting a young singer in Houston back in 2010. The plea deal was announced just as their trial was about to begin. Daniels, one of the world's leading countertenors, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault of an adult, while Walters faced similar charges. As part of the deal, Daniels will face eight years of probation and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. He is also prohibited from having any contact with the singer he assaulted, Samuel Schultz. The plea deal allowed Daniels to avoid a more serious charge of aggravated sexual assault, which carries harsher penalties.

This case has significant implications, as Daniels is one of the most prominent classical stars to face criminal charges during the national #MeToo reckoning. His performing career has already suffered since his arrest in 2019, and he was let go from his position as a tenured professor of voice at the University of Michigan in 2020. Daniels, known for his performances on some of the world's most prestigious stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera in London, helped pave the way for countertenors in the industry.

The victim, Samuel Schultz, who is now 36 years old, was a 23-year-old graduate student at Rice University at the time of the assault. He went public with his accusation of rape in 2018 as part of the #MeToo movement. Schultz claimed that after attending one of Daniels' performances and a cast party, he was invited to the couple's apartment. There, he said he was given a drink that caused him to lose consciousness. When he woke up, he was alone, naked, and bleeding from the rectum.

Prior to the trial, both Daniels and Walters denied the accusations, stating that the encounter was consensual. They claimed that Schultz had driven himself to their apartment after attending several parties together. However, Schultz maintained that the encounter was non-consensual and had a significant impact on his life and career. He expressed relief that the defendants had pleaded guilty, acknowledging the truth of his traumatic experience.

The case drew attention from authorities due to the credibility and reliability of Schultz's account. Houston police officer D.H. Escobar, who worked on the case, found Schultz to be credible and reliable. Schultz had also sought medical attention in 2010, which further supported his claims. Prosecutors in the Harris County District Attorney's Office have not commented on the case.

The guilty pleas from Daniels and Walters mark a significant development in the trial, which was highly anticipated. The plea deal ensures that both defendants will avoid prison time but will be subject to strict probation conditions and registration as sex offenders. The trial was expected to shed more light on the allegations and provide further evidence to support Schultz's claims.