Felipe Vazquez is going where he deserves to be, but it should’ve been for a lot longer.
The former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to four years in prison for the sexual assault of a 13-year old girl. The 29-year-old was convicted back in May of 15 offenses in connection with a sexual relationship he had with a teen that started 2017 and lasted for nearly two years. It included 10 counts of sexual abuse of children, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count each of statutory sexual assault, indecent sexual assault and corruption of a minor.
Westmoreland County Judge Scott Mears ordered Vazquez to serve two to four years in prison and an additional two years on probation. He was also have a lifetime registration as a sex offender.
During the trial, Vazquez did not deny the sexual relationship he had with the teenager, but he did deny knowing that she was only 13 years old.
Because Vazquez has served about 23 months in jail since his arrest in September 2019 he will be eligible for parole next month.
Things are not over for him as prosecutors are also building cases in Florida and Missouri for additional alleged crimes that occurred with the same victim.
