David Del Rio has handed CBS Studios fresh evidence—including texts and witness names—after the network quietly reopened its sexual-assault investigation, reigniting the scandal that got him fired from Matlock in October.
David Del Rio isn’t walking away quietly. Three months after CBS abruptly fired him from the breakout drama Matlock, the 38-year-old actor has delivered a packet of new evidence to studio investigators in a bid to discredit the sexual-assault allegation leveled by co-star Leah Lewis, sources confirm to onlytrustedinfo.com.
The move comes after CBS quietly reopened its probe in November, a decision that never triggered a public press release but has now set off a fresh round of legal maneuvering behind the scenes.
What’s Inside the New File
- A string of text messages between Del Rio and Lewis that his camp claims undercut the timeline of her complaint.
- Witness names—including crew and day-players—willing to testify that the on-set relationship was “playful and consensual,” according to the source.
- A timeline Del Rio’s attorneys argue shows “no gap” in which the alleged assault could have occurred without multiple people present.
“David was Leah’s close confidante on set,” the insider stresses. “The basis of their relationship was playful—then one day that changed.”
Why the Case Was Reopened
CBS Studios launched its first investigation within 24 hours of Lewis’ complaint in early October. By month’s end, Del Rio was escorted off the Atlanta set and his character, attorney Billy Martinez, was erased from season 2 scripts.
Insiders say the network’s HR department initially treated the matter as closed once Del Rio was let go. But in November, Del Rio’s high-powered legal team—led by Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber’s litigator—formally requested a rehearing, citing “previously unavailable exculpatory material.”
That filing forced CBS to reactivate the case file, though the studio has since declined on-the-record comment, citing a blanket policy of not discussing “pending legal matters.”
The Relationship That Went From “Playtime” to Police File
As recently as September 2024, Lewis publicly gushed about her scene partner, telling Us Weekly, “It’s been playtime… we’re always dancing and twinkling around set.” Del Rio returned the praise, calling Lewis his personal pick for the role of Sarah Franklin after chemistry reads with four other actresses.
That affectionate tone is precisely what Del Rio’s defense now leans on, arguing the same flirtatious banter investigators deemed inappropriate was openly celebrated by both actors—until, his team claims, an unspecified incident reframed it as non-consensual.
No Finish Line in Sight
Sources close to the process admit the review “has been moving slow,” with no timetable for a final ruling. Del Rio has already sat for multiple interviews under oath, while Lewis has yet to agree to a follow-up session, further complicating CBS’ effort to reach a definitive conclusion.
Until then, Matlock continues shooting its sophomore season with Lewis front-and-center and Del Rio’s chair permanently empty—a daily visual reminder inside Stage 12 that the scandal is far from settled.
Stay locked on onlytrustedinfo.com for the fastest, most authoritative updates as Hollywood’s most tangled on-set case grinds forward.
