First reported by Jeff Passan of MLB Insider/ESPN, Felipe Vázquez is facing charges of computer pornography, solicitation of a 15-year-old girl (she was 13 when it all started) and one count of providing obscene material to minors (he allegedly sent her a sex video).
Vazquez was taken into custody by the PA State Police and Florida agents in Pittsburgh for a warrant issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The police also removed several electronic devices to examine. He’s being arraigned by an Allegheny County Magistrate this afternoon and was placed on administrative leave by MLB while awaiting extradition back to Lee County. (Florida Police statement)
The Pirates released this statement: “Today we were made aware of an active law enforcement investigation involving Felipe Vázquez and his subsequent arrest. We take this matter, and these charges in particular, extremely seriously. We have informed the Commissioner’s Office of the investigation and arrest. The Commissioner’s Office will immediately place Felipe Vázquez on Administrative Leave (and, as a result, Restricted List) pursuant to the Joint MLB/MLBPA Policy. We need to be respectful to all involved and the ongoing legal proceeding. As a result, the organization, our staff and players cannot comment any further at this time.”
If the charges are substantiated, Vazquez could face, of course, jail time, be suspended from the league and the team, released, and likely lose his visa/work permit. And deserve it all, if he did the deed.
2 comments:
Well, I guess when it rains, it pours.
I am not certain how the law reads in a case like this, but am wondering---if you don't mind me speculating about such a nauseating case---if Vazquez might be in less hot water given that the girl is a teenager. I would imagine his attorneys would argue that the "relationship" was consensual, though of course she was still well below legal age. But I am thinking that this might fall under the heading of statutory rape as opposed to child molestation or child pornography. Again, just thinking out loud here. Either way he's in deep and very hot water and his career is almost certainly over even if he pleads down to lesser charges.
He's in big trouble, Will. Pennsylvania filed charges against him, too, so the law looks like it's got him good. BTW, very few people, including MLB & the Pirates, had a clue per local sources - the Florida cops kept it close to the vest so it didn't leak; they didn't want him scooting back to Venezuela.
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