Orlando City player charged with rape
A recent addition to Orlando City Soccer Club’s roster was suspended by the league after he and his brother were arrested late Tuesday by deputy sheriffs in Osceola County, who in an arrest affidavit accused the men of raping a woman at their Kissimmee apartment days earlier.
Jonathan Suárez-Cortés and his brother Rafael Suárez Jr., 25, were booked into Osceola County jail Tuesday night on charges of sexual battery. During their initial appearances in court Wednesday
afternoon, a judge set bond at for each at $20,000.
The pair were ordered to have no contact with the victim in the case once released and not to leave Orange or Osceola counties. They were also told not to consume any alcohol.
Suárez-Cortés, 24, is a defender for Orlando City. He is listed on the team roster as Jonathan Suárez and was acquired on loan from Querétaro FC
earlier this month, ahead of the 2021 season. After his arrest, Major League Soccer suspended him.
The affidavit said the woman was with SuárezCortés and his brother at TopGolf on Universal Boulevard on Sunday. They had reservations for 4:30 p.m. and were drinking there for about two hours, the affidavit said.
The girl and her friend went back to the Suárez brothers’ apartment complex at the Jamison Apartments, where they played beer pong. The woman said she ended up in Rafael Suárez Jr.’s room, where they began having consensual sex, according to the affidavit.
Then, Suárez Jr. let his brother into the room. After entering, Suárez-Cortés said that he wanted “in on the fun,” the affidavit said. The woman told them both “no,” but Suárez-Cortés forced her to perform a sex act on him, even after she tried to pull away, and told his brother to resume having sex with her, the affidavit said.
The woman left with a friend, who she later confided in Monday and who encouraged her to contact law enforcement. The woman did not have either man’s phone number but showed Osceola deputies their Instagram pages.
The men were initially jailed without bond on a first-degree felony charges. But in court on Wednesday, Suárez-Cortés’ defense lawyer successfully argued that an affidavit submitted by Osceola deputies fell short of establishing probable cause for that charge.
Instead, Carsten found a basis for a second-degree felony sexual battery charge and granted bail. Under Florida law, the more-serious charge requires a showing of aggravating factors, such as that the victim was physically helpless to resist, was coerced by threats of force or violence likely to cause serious injury or was drugged without their consent.
It will be up to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office to decide which formal charges, if any, to file against Suárez-Cortés and his brother. The lesser charge under which the men were granted bond carries the possibility of 15 years in state prison.
Suárez-Cortés’ passport, which he had with him when he was arrested, will be held by the clerk of courts. Suárez must have a family member or friend turn his passport into the clerk before he can post bond, a Circuit Judge Keith A. Carsten said.
An Orlando City SC spokesperson released the following statement shortly after midnight Wednesday in response to the arrest:
“Late Tuesday night, Orlando City SC became aware that defender Jonathan Suárez was arrested in Osceola County. The club takes these allegations very seriously and is currently gathering more information. No further comment will be provided by the club until additional investigation of the alleged incident is complete.”
Suárez-Cortés arrived in Orlando earlier this month and toured Exploria Stadium for the first time on Feb. 19, along with new goalkeeper Brandon Austin.
A photo posted on his Instagram account dated Feb. 13 shows he recently moved into an Orlando area apartment.
The defender was born in Anaheim, California, and played for Fontana High School before signing his first professional contract in Argentina at the age of 18. He went on to play for Cimarrones de Sonora, Querétaro FC and Pumas UNAM in the top two Mexican leagues.
Orlando City players are set to begin the league’s mandatory quarantine period ahead of preseason workouts Monday.