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Thursday, May 20, 2021

MLB pitcher Felipe Vazquez convicted in child sex case

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was convicted on 15 counts Thursday in a child sex case.

Vazquez had sex with a 13-year-old girl in 2017 in Scottdale, Pa., about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, local ABC affiliate WTAE reported. He was arrested in 2019 and suspended shortly afterward.

Vazquez, 29, was convicted of one count of statutory sexual assault, 10 counts of sexual abuse of children, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, one county of corruption of a minor and one count of indecent assault of someone under 16 years old, local CBS affiliate KDKA reported.

A jury found Vazquez not guilty on 10 counts of unlawful contact or communication with a minor.

“The jury believed he used his position as a professional athlete to prey upon a young girl,” Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Vazquez was jailed Thursday night and will be sentenced in about three months, the paper reported.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 20, 2021 at 10:35 PM | 20 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. winnipegwhip Posted: May 20, 2021 at 10:44 PM (#6020015)

When asked about their verdict several members of the jury stated they considered the facts of the case, the law and fact that Vasquez never quarterbacked a Super Bowl champion in their decision to convict.

2. RickG Posted: May 20, 2021 at 10:49 PM (#6020017)

Ok, please forgive my ignorance. Which Super Bowl winning quarterback did bad things to a 13 year old?

3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 20, 2021 at 11:06 PM (#6020020)

So when do the Astros sign him?

4. Pat Rapper's Delight (as quoted on MLB Network) Posted: May 20, 2021 at 11:12 PM (#6020022)

I'm surprised to see he never played for the Yankees.

5. Lars6788 Posted: May 20, 2021 at 11:17 PM (#6020023)

Vasquez never quarterbacked a Super Bowl champion in their decision to convict.

Are you talking about Rapelisberger?

6. smileyy Posted: May 21, 2021 at 01:02 AM (#6020032)

He did not "have sex" with a 13 year old. He raped her.

7. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: May 21, 2021 at 01:36 AM (#6020034)

#6 I know what you’re getting at, but these types of articles typically only use the term “rape” when describing forcible rape, or when the victim is impaired. And in this case, he was not convicted of “rape”, which is a separate offense as defined under PA law, so I think the article is correct in its usage.

8. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: May 21, 2021 at 01:39 PM (#6020084)

I'm surprised to see he never played for the Yankees.

The Yanks don't bother with rapists, just murderers.

9. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: May 21, 2021 at 01:42 PM (#6020086)

The Yanks don't bother with rapists

Chad Curtis and Mel Hall may disagree.

10. SoSH U at work Posted: May 21, 2021 at 01:49 PM (#6020087)

Chad Curtis and Mel Hall may disagree.

And John Wetteland.

11. Itchy Row Posted: May 21, 2021 at 01:53 PM (#6020088)

And John Wetteland.

And Sergio Mitre.

12. Rally Posted: May 21, 2021 at 02:09 PM (#6020094)

And Luis Polonia

13. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: May 21, 2021 at 03:55 PM (#6020116)

Look, aside from Curtis, Hall, Wetteland, Mitre, and Polonia, the Yanks don't bother with rapists, OK?

14. Darren

Posted: May 21, 2021 at 04:05 PM (#6020120)

And Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio. And Mike Crudale.

15. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 21, 2021 at 04:26 PM (#6020127)

Look, aside from Curtis, Hall, Wetteland, Mitre, and Polonia, the Yanks don't bother with rapists, OK?

And Rusty Torres.

16. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: May 21, 2021 at 04:32 PM (#6020129)

Mel Hall went to the prom. Seriously. If you're 27 years old, a major league baseball player, and you find yourself at the prom, how do you not take that as a sign that maybe your decision making process needs improvement?

17. Itchy Row Posted: May 21, 2021 at 05:22 PM (#6020136)

At least current Yankees aren't rapists.

That we know of.

18. ReggieThomasLives Posted: May 23, 2021 at 08:25 PM (#6020483)

Maybe he thought she was 14?

19. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: May 23, 2021 at 10:16 PM (#6020508)

Mel Hall went to the prom.

This made me laugh. I'm aware of the facts of it, but just reading it the way you wrote it made me laugh. Yes, Mel Hall is scum.

20. . . . . . . Posted: May 23, 2021 at 11:00 PM (#6020522)

The Yanks don't bother with rapists, just murderers

I’m probably the only person that gives a #### about this, but this is totally unfair to Jimmy Leyritz, who was exonerated at trial. He was drunk - very drunk - at the time of the crash, but was able to conclusively prove that the other driver was:
(1) just as drunk
(2) wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, which led to her ejection from her vehicle and death, and most importantly
(3) completely responsible for the accident, because they ran a red light while leyritz had the green

IIRC, it was a pretty egregious example of prosecutorial overreach, Leyritz was suicidal prior to the trial, and the judge made clear that she agreed with the jury’s verdict and thought the prosecutor had been a ####.

That doesn’t excuse Leyritz driving with a sporty BAC >.15, but he’s not a ####### murderer, he’s just a reckless #######.

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Thursday, May 20, 2021

MLB pitcher Felipe Vazquez convicted in child sex case

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