Vázquez Admits Sexual Contact With 13-Year-old: Police

Pitcher says he met girl in the bullpen
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 18, 2019 5:18 PM CDT
Vázquez Tried to Have Sex With 13-Year-Old: Police
Banner brackets are empty after the banner of Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez was taken down on Tuesday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.   (Michael M. Santiago/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)

Felipe Vázquez has told police he tried to have sex with a 13-year-old girl in 2017, a criminal complaint says. The Pittsburgh Pirates closer, who was arrested and jailed Tuesday, faces a series of charges in Pennsylvania and Florida concerning his contact with the girl, who is now 16. The complaint released by Pennsylvania State Police says Vázquez sent her nude photographs and videos of himself committing sexual acts, ESPN reports. Police say Vázquez met her when he was in the bullpen at PNC Park, the Pirates' stadium, then drove to her family's home near Pittsburgh. She apparently got in his car, where he pulled down her pants and attempted intercourse, then left. Vázquez said he continued to text her about having sex until at least July, per the Post-Gazette.

She and her family moved to Florida, and the arrest Tuesday was on a Florida warrant alleging Vázquez used a computer device to solicit a child for sex and provide obscene material to a minor. The Pennsylvania charges include statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old (which is the state's legal age of consent). Pennsylvania officials say Vázquez will face the charges there before extradition to Florida. Pirates officials spoke to the team before its game Tuesday night about the case, and a banner outside the stadium showing Vázquez was removed. During the game, Vázquez's locker was cleaned out, per the AP. Another player now has it. (More child sex abuse stories.)

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