An Arizona woman who accused former major league pitcher Trevor Bauer of sexual assault has been charged with defrauding the baseball player. The indictment alleges that Bauer and another person were defrauded in a scheme that may have spanned several years, although it does not provide specific details about the alleged crimes. The woman had previously sued Bauer in December 2022, claiming that he had raped her two years earlier, resulting in a pregnancy in late 2020. Bauer, however, denied the allegations and stated that the encounter was consensual. He accused the woman of faking the pregnancy to extort money from him, claiming that she made several million-dollar demands.
Despite the lawsuit, Bauer was never arrested or charged with any crimes. His attorneys claimed that he paid $8,761 for expenses related to the woman’s reported pregnancy and its subsequent termination, although she later stated that she had a miscarriage. The woman is now facing charges of fraud and theft by extortion, both felonies, and is scheduled to be arraigned on the criminal charges next Friday. Bauer released a video statement proclaiming his innocence and expressing frustration over the situation, questioning when he would be able to return to work and continue his career.
Bauer has been attempting to revive his major league career after serving a suspension for violating the league’s policies on domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. He was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers in January 2023 and played with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan before signing a deal to pitch for Mexico’s Diablos Rojos this spring. Despite the legal controversies surrounding him, Bauer made his first appearance in a spring exhibition game against the New York Yankees. The MLB has not taken any immediate action against Bauer in response to the recent charges, and the situation continues to unfold as the legal process progresses.
The case involving Bauer and the woman has attracted significant attention, as it highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding sexual assault allegations and legal disputes in professional sports. Both parties have made conflicting claims, with Bauer asserting his innocence and the woman maintaining that she was a victim of assault. The legal proceedings will likely shed more light on the details of the case and determine the outcome of the criminal charges against the woman. Meanwhile, Bauer’s career and reputation remain under scrutiny as he strives to move past the allegations and focus on his baseball career. The MLB’s response to the situation may impact Bauer’s future in the league and will be closely monitored by fans and sports analysts.
