Francisco Rodriguez has been charged with one count of domestic abuse. The free agent reliever got into an alleged scuffle with his fiancee in September. He faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the Waukesha County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from Rodriguez’s residence about 2:40 a.m. on Sept. 17. There they found Rodriguez’s 23-year-old girlfriend hiding in a closet. She told them Rodriguez, with whom she has a child, struck her in the head with his fist, then kicked her on the ground before dragging her to a car and driving around the neighborhood while continuing an argument.
Rodriguez informed the deputies that his girlfriend had become upset when he said she could not accompany him on the Brewer’s trip to Pittsburgh. Rodriguez says that the two pushed each other and argued.
Three days later the victim said the whole incident was her fault, and denied that Rodriguez had caused her injuries.
The Brewers have not commented on the matter since it occurred, other than to say club officials were aware of the ongoing legal issue.
In 2010, Rodriguez was charged with assault and harassment following an altercation involving the father of an ex-girlfriend at Citi Field in New York. He pled guilty to lesser charges and underwent anger management classes. Rodriguez is currently being sued for injuries resulting from the altercation.
Rodriguez is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on the morning of Nov. 12.
On Wednesday Rodriguez reached a settlement against his former agents according to USA Today. The agents are alleged to have lied about filing a no-trade clause in his contract with the Mets. Since the clause was never filed the Mets were able to trade him to Milwaukee. Rodriguez is said to have received more then $2 million in the settlement. He is now represented by Scott Boras.