Westmoreland judge rejects bid to toss sex charges against suspended Pirates pitcher

A Westmoreland County judge denied suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez’s bid to dismiss sex and pornography charges, setting the stage for a trial scheduled to begin in March.

Vazquez, 29, was charged in August 2019 after police in both Westmoreland County and Florida contended the Venezuela-born athlete had sexual relations with a teen girl and also exchanged explicit photographs with her during the two years prior to his arrest.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears, in a lengthy 50-page opinion, ruled police properly questioned Vazquez in his Strip District home the week after a legal traffic stop outside of PNC Park to obtain the pitcher’s address.

The judge also ruled two police interrogations and searches of Vazquez’s phone and computer were lawful and rejected a bid to bar the pitcher’s statements from evidence based on claims that he did not adequately understand English and that he was coerced and intimidated into speaking with investigators.

Mears said Vazquez was not credible during two hours of testimony in September in which he described his interactions with police and attempted to portray himself as an unsophisticated foreigner. Vazquez testified he could not even spell his name and said his upbringing left him in fear that he would be shot by police.

“In fact, during his subsequent testimony the defendant appeared to be quite intelligent and proficient in the English language. He understood almost all, if not all, of the questions that were asked and generally provided responsive and appropriate answers,” Mears wrote.

Vazquez is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl in his car outside of her Scottdale home in 2017. He also is charged with pornography offenses after police say they found pictures of the teen in his possession and sexually explicit photographs of him on her cellphone. Police said the girl also sent Vazquez pornographic pictures.

In all, police in Pennsylvania charged Vazquez with 25 counts associated with those allegations, said to have occurred over two years, ending in August 2019. Vazquez also faces pornography charges in Florida and was charged last year with possession of child pornography in St. Louis involving the same girl.

According to court records, police said Vazquez initially denied having any sexual contact with the teen, but, by the end of interrogation, admitted he initially met her through Instagram, exchanged nude photographs of each other and, two to three months later, drove out to her home and attempted to have sex with her but was unable to complete the act.

He said the girl claimed she was 18, police said.

Vazquez maintained his innocence when he testified last summer. He refuted the police accounts of his confession, denied having any personal contact with the girl, including allegations he met her outside of her Scottdale home in 2017.

In his opinion, Mears said the police accounts of the confession were supported by an audio recording of the interrogation.

Vazquez was suspended by the Pirates after his arrest and has been held without bond in the Westmoreland County Prison.

His trial is scheduled to begin March 15.