County district attorney won't file charges against Sandoval

The Giants' Pablo Sandoval celebrates scoring the winning run against the Houston Astros on Saturday in San Francisco. (Associated Press)

The Santa Cruz County District Attorney announced Monday afternoon it would not file charges against San Francisco Giants big man Pablo Sandoval.

The announcement comes days after the county sheriff’s office said it had insufficient evidence to file charges against Sandoval, who was accused of sexual assault.

A 21-year-old Santa Cruz woman and Sandoval met in downtown Santa Cruz on June 1. The two went back to the Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos where the alleged incident occurred.

"The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Investigation Bureau did an extensive investigation including interviewing witnesses, serving search warrants, reviewing security camera video tapes, text messages, toxicology reports and analyzing physical evidence,” said District Attorney Bob Lee. “Based on review of this thorough investigation, the District Attorney's office has reached this same conclusion.

"The nature and number of the complainant's inconsistencies leaves us unable to establish her version of events beyond a reasonable doubt. Nothing from the physical evidence and other witnesses helped corroborate her story. All the evidence that might be relevant to the contested issues of force and lack of consent is simply inconclusive.”

The alleged incident happened while Sandoval was recovering from a second hamate bone surgery.

Sandoval’s attorney, Eric Geffon, said the encounter between the player and woman was “consentual.”

During the 40-day investigation, the county sheriff’s office produced what ended up being a 300-page report on their investigation. Lee said Thursday it would take a few days to process it.

Sandoval went 1 for 4 and scored a run in the Giants’ 3-2 win against Houston on Sunday. The win completed a three-game sweep as the Giants returned from the All-Star break.

This season, he is batting .307 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. He was one of four Giants selected to the All-Star team.



For the complete article see the 07-17-2012 issue.

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