Sheriff's Office: insufficient evidence to prosecute Sandoval

Photo 1: Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee talks to the media Thursday about the investigation into San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Photo 2: Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Deputy April Skalland announces that investigators have insufficient evidence to arrest Sandoval. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula and the Associated Press).

SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that there is insufficient evidence to arrest San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval for an alleged sexual assault.

Deputy April Skalland said the Sheriff’s Department worked closely with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office as they pored over forensic evidence and interviewed witnesses.

The alleged victim is a 21-year-old Santa Cruz County woman, but Skalland declined to reveal any further details about her.

“This is a sensitive subject, and we want to respect her privacy,” she said.

Skalland also did not discuss the evidence.

The victim reported the alleged assault on June 1, and told investigators she met a small group of people in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday night and then went to Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos, where the alleged incident happened. Sandoval was contacted at the resort by detectives and cooperated in the investigation, authorities said.

The investigation will now go to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office for final evaluation.

District Attorney Bob Lee said he was still reading the 300-page report Thursday, and estimated it would take a few days to make a decision.

While prosecutors have the option to charge Sandoval, Lee said that it’s unusual to disregard the recommendation of investigators.

“We have been working very closely with the Sheriff’s Office, so I doubt that would happen,” he said.

Sandoval’s attorney Eric Geffon called the sexual encounter “consensual.”

“The Sheriff’s Department has completed a thorough investigation and we are pleased that they have concluded there is insufficient evidence to make an arrest,” Geffon stated in a written statement to the press. “Pablo will continue to focus on helping the Giants towards a playoff run this season.”

Despite facing charges in the high-profile case, Sandoval, 25, played in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Tuesday, where he hit a three-run triple.



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