Domestic violence case against former Brewers pitcher dismissed
Crime, courts and legal issues in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin
A prosecutor on Thursday dismissed domestic battery charges against former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Francisco Rodriguez because the victim and a witness have both returned to Venezuela.
Rodriguez, 30, was charged last month after a September incident at his home in Wales involving his 23-year-old girlfriend.
The woman told Waukesha County Sheriff's deputies that Rodriguez had struck and injured her but three days later said the argument was all her fault and recanted her story that Rodriguez had caused her injuries.
The case had been set for trial next week, but at a status hearing Thursday, Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel told the court the state could not meet its burden of proof and the case was dismissed.
Schimel said later that he believes the girlfriend and a member of the household staff who was in Rodriguez's home the night of the incident are both in Venezuela. He said neither has responded to attempted contacts.
"At this point, I can't drag her back kicking and screaming," he said.
"I've got little reason to believe either the victim or Mr. Rodriguez are ever going to be residents of Wisconsin again," Schimel said.
Rodriguez, who became a free agent at the end of the season. lists a Florida address in the Waukesha County court record. He was not present for Thursday's hearing. He was represented by Michael F. Hart.
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