ORLANDO, Fla. – UPDATE: The charges against Jonathan Suárez-Cortes and Rafael Suárez Jr. have been dropped by prosecutors. Below is the original story following their arrest in Osceola County.
An Orlando City soccer player and his brother were arrested Tuesday in Osceola County on charges of sexual battery, according to authorities.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said Jonathan Suárez-Cortes, a 24-year-old defender for the MLS team, and Rafael Suárez Jr., were booked into jail and were being held without bond.
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Sheriff’s officials said deputies were called around 2 p.m. Monday and a woman told them two men had sexually attacked her the previous day.
Records show the woman said she and some friends, including Suárez-Cortes and Suárez Jr., went to Topgolf Sunday afternoon to have a few drinks and hang out. When they were done there, Suárez-Cortes invited the group back to his apartment at The Jamison in Kissimmee and they all began playing beer pong.
Deputies said the victim and Suárez Jr. went to his room and began engaging in consensual sex and at some point the doorknob started to move and Suárez Jr. opened it to find Suárez-Cortes at the door.
Records show the two brothers spoke for a moment and Suárez-Cortes said the other woman had fallen asleep and, “I want in on the fun.”
The victim immediately said “no” but both men forced themselves onto her, according to the affidavit.
“It pretty much started as consensual with one of the brothers and at one point the other brother decided he wanted to engage. The victim said, ‘no.’ No means no. They continued and that was with brought, that’s when the rape began and they were subsequently arrested after the victim (reported it),” Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez said.
After the rape, the victim tried to fall asleep but couldn’t so she texted her friend that they needed to leave, authorities said.
Detectives said the woman provided information and evidence supporting her claims, and they were able to identify Suárez-Cortes and Suárez Jr. as the suspects.
The men were later arrested.
Suárez-Cortes, known as Jonathan Suárez, was acquired earlier this month by Orlando City on loan from Queretaro FC, according to the team.
The team released a statement on Tuesday.
“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,” the team said.
The brothers appeared before a judge Wednesday and had their bonds set at $20,000. Once released, they can’t have contact with each other or the victim, they can’t drink alcohol or use drugs and they can’t leave the circuit.