Connect with us

Published

on

Former MLB pitcher Trevor Bauer declined to be interviewed by police in Arizona about a sexual assault complaint filed against him, while the woman who accused him gave police varying accounts about her alleged pregnancy, according to two police reports obtained by ESPN on Friday.

The woman, whom ESPN has chosen not to name, said in a civil lawsuit that Bauer sexually assaulted her in December 2020, which led to her “unplanned pregnancy.” The woman reported the incident to the Scottsdale Police Department in December 2022, a week after she filed the suit against Bauer. Bauer’s attorneys, in court filings, have described the encounter as “consensual” and claim the woman fabricated the pregnancy. Jon Fetterolf and Rachel Luba, co-agents for Bauer, told ESPN in a statement that he “categorically denies” the allegations made in the woman’s statements to police and within her court filings, reiterating a statement they made earlier this week calling the woman’s claims “untethered to reality.”

Attorneys listed on the woman’s court documents have not responded to ESPN’s requests for comment.

According to the police reports obtained by ESPN, when the Arizona woman was interviewed by police following her report of sexual assault, she “initially stated she had a miscarriage, but later referred to the miscarriage as an abortion,” the detective noted in his report. “At the time during the interview I questioned [her] whether she had a miscarriage or an abortion because they’re two separate things. During the interview, [she] stated ‘they’re pretty much the same thing’ and said she no longer wanted to talk about it,” the detective wrote.

A month later, the woman told the detective she did not have an abortion, but miscarried just before going to a clinic located in another state, according to the report. She told police she “did not visit medical persons for any treatment, rather, she saw her OBGyn in Scottsdale when she returned to AZ,” according to the report. The detective added that the medical records she had provided “do not indicate” whether she “was in fact pregnant.”

In January, one of Bauer’s attorneys, Anne Chapman, also contacted the Scottsdale Police Department to file a criminal complaint accusing the woman of “theft by extortion.” According to that complaint, Chapman told police that the Arizona woman “had demanded financial compensation from her client for a pregnancy and abortion that was alleged to be false.”

In February, police investigating Bauer’s extortion complaint concluded that his case did not meet the criminal statute.

In March, on the same day news broke that Bauer signed a one-year deal to play in Japan, police asked to interview him. A representative for Bauer told ESPN that Bauer signed with the Yokohama BayStars on Feb. 26 after agreeing to terms the previous week.

Eleven days after police requested to interview Bauer, Chapman declined “due to Bauer recently moving overseas.” The case was listed as inactive “due to no probable cause having been established.”

“Mr. Bauer cooperated with the Scottsdale Police Department’s investigation,” the Bauer representative said. “He was out of state for a family medical emergency at the time of the interview request before traveling to Japan for the season. His attorneys offered to address further questions following his initial statement and exhibits but that was not needed as the case became inactive.”

In April, Bauer’s attorneys filed a countersuit in Maricopa Superior Court accusing the woman of fraud, which she has denied.

On Tuesday, the woman’s attorneys filed an amended complaint on her behalf, stating for the first time in the court record that she had a miscarriage.

Both sides have told the judge presiding over the case that they will be ready for a jury trial by May 2024.

Continue Reading

Sports

Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Published

on

By

Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

Continue Reading

Sports

‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

Published

on

By

'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

Continue Reading

Sports

‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Published

on

By

'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”

Continue Reading

Trending