Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez arrested for soliciting a child

Liz Roscher
·Staff writer
Updated ·2 min read
Felipe Vazquez has been arrested on computer pornography charges that involve a child. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Felipe Vazquez has been arrested on computer pornography charges that involve a child. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Felipe Vazquez, closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was arrested in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced that he was arrested for computer pornography — solicitation of a child and one count of providing obscene material to minors.

While Vazquez was arrested in Pittsburgh, the warrant came from Lee County, Florida. Investigators served a warrant on Vazquez’s Pittsburgh apartment on Tuesday morning.

The details of Vazquez’s alleged crimes are distressing and disgusting. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Vazquez allegedly had a relationship with a young girl that started when she was 13, which continued for several years and included the sending of explicit texts and videos.

FDLE’s investigation began in August of this year after agents obtained information that Vazquez had a reported sexual relationship with a 13-year old female victim who resides in Lee County. The victim, now 15 years of age, was continuing to have a relationship with Vazquez via text messaging and received a video in July from him in which he is shown performing a sex act. Additionally, Vazquez allegedly sent the victim text messages suggesting they would meet for sex after his baseball season was over.

Vazquez was denied bond by a judge, and faces four additional charges, including statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors.

The Pirates have released a statement about Vazquez’s arrest.

Vazquez has been placed on administrative leave. He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail and is facing extradition back to Florida. Vazquez’s extradition hearing will take place next Wednesday.

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