Woman Who Accused Trevor Bauer of Assault Charged with Fraud

Image Credit: Los Angeles Times

An Arizona woman who previously accused former Major League Baseball pitcher Trevor Bauer of sexual assault now finds herself facing charges of defrauding the athlete, according to an indictment unsealed in Maricopa County Superior Court on Monday.

The charges against the woman include fraud and theft by extortion, both classified as felonies. The indictment alleges that Bauer and another individual were targets of a fraudulent scheme spanning multiple years, though specific details regarding the alleged crimes were not disclosed.

The Associated Press refrains from naming individuals who claim to be victims of sexual assault unless they choose to come forward publicly. The woman initiated a lawsuit against Bauer in December 2022, alleging rape in an incident two years prior that she claimed resulted in pregnancy in late 2020.

As of Tuesday afternoon, court records did not indicate legal representation for the woman in the fraud case. Additionally, the attorney who had been representing her in the original lawsuit did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Bauer, who was never arrested or charged concerning the sexual assault accusation, countersued, asserting that he engaged in one consensual sexual encounter with the woman in 2020 and accused her of fabricating a pregnancy to extort money from him. According to Bauer’s legal team, the woman had made several demands for millions of dollars from him.

The former MLB player stated that he eventually paid $8,761 for expenses he believed were related to the reported pregnancy and its termination. Subsequently, the woman disclosed that she decided against terminating the pregnancy and later experienced a miscarriage.

The woman is slated for arraignment on the criminal charges next Friday. In a video statement released on Tuesday, Bauer adamantly maintained his innocence. 

“What else do I have to do to prove that this entire situation has been a massive lie? This is insane,” Bauer expressed. “At what point do I get to go back to work and continue earning a living?”

Bauer has been endeavoring to revitalize his professional baseball career after serving a suspension for violations of the league’s domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. His suspension followed another woman’s accusations of physical assault and sexual abuse, allegations that Bauer refuted.

Following his release from the Los Angeles Dodgers in January 2023, Bauer played in Japan’s Pacific League last year with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He inked a deal this spring to pitch five games for Mexico’s Diablos Rojos and made his debut in a spring exhibition against the New York Yankees.

This story was originally featured on AP News