Former Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez has been found guilty on multiple sexual assault and abuse charges, per our news partners at WPXI.

Vazquez was found guilty of statutory sexual assault, sexual abuse of children, indecent assault of a minor under 16 and corruption of a minor, all of which were the most serious charges he faced.

He was found not guilty on 10 charges of unlawful contact or communication with a minor.

The four day case was put in the hands of the jury Thursday night, and after nearly four hours of deliberations, a ruling was made.

The victim was in the courtroom with the family as the 25 individual charges were read.

Vazquez is also facing charges in Florida, where he’s accused of sending the same victim inappropriate messages, and in Missouri. 

Vazquez was arrested in September 2019 for his inappropriate relationship with a young girl from Scottdale, Westmoreland Country, which started in 2017 when the victim was 13. Investigators said that during the initial questioning following his arrest, Vazquez told them he had sex with the victim in his car. Vazquez later testified that the police lied and he never confessed, and claimed that he believed the girl was 18.

Vazquez again claimed during the trial that he believed the victim was 18 because she showed him identification. She denied that accusation.

Police also found inappropriate pictures and videos on Vazquez’s phone and laptop, as well as sexual conversations between himself and the minor.

Vazquez has been held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail since his arrest.

Vazquez has been on Major League Baseball’s restricted list since his arrest, with the Pirates immediately severing all ties with the suspended pitcher. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season. He is not being paid. 

Loading...
Loading...