Shilo Sanders testifies in ongoing bankruptcy trial

Published September 2, 2026 09:57 AM The Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial continues in Colorado, as he tries to have a massive judgment of $11.89 million discharged.Via Olivia Doak of the Boulder Daily Camera, Shilo Sanders took the witness stand on Tuesday.He disputed prior testimony that painted him as the aggressor in a 2015 altercation that left John Darjean, who was a security guard at Shilo’s school, with serious injuries. Shilo said that Darjean was “getting aggressive” and “attacked and assaulted” Shilo. He added that Darjean choked him.Other witnesses said they did not see Darjean choke Shilo Sanders.The fight happened after Darjean attempted to confiscate Shilo’s phone. Shilo did not testify at the proceedings that resulted in the $11.89 million verdict, because he didn’t show up for the trial.Also on Tuesday, a doctor testified that Darjean’s injuries required a fusion of the C3 through C7 vertebrae in his neck.A 2018 deposition of Deion Sanders also was played in court. He said that, on the day of the incident, Darjean called Deion and said he was dealing with a situation with Shilo.“My exact words were to handle it like you’d handle anybody else,” Deion Sanders said in the deposition.Shilo’s testimony is expected to continue on Wednesday. Deion possibly will be testifying virtually on Friday, depending on whether Shilo’s lawyers open the door to the question of why Shilo would have been intent on not relinquishing his phone.The overriding question is whether the injuries inflicted by Shilo on Darjean were “willful and malicious.” If the judge finds that they were, the $11.89 million judgment will not be discharged through the federal bankruptcy laws.