Costa Rica's Prosecutor's Office seeks four years in prison for Cuban footballer Marcel Hernández

February 5, 2022

Costa Rica's Prosecutor's Office requested, on Friday, February 4, four years in prison against Cuban footballer Marcel Hernández for two counts of "improper relations" with a minor and withdrew the charges it had filed for four counts of "rape," according to Diario de Cuba.

The prosecutor in the case, Carolina Martínez, presented the Prosecutor's Office conclusions on Friday in the trial being held against the footballer, in which she asked the judges to acquit the defendant of the rape charges, but maintained the charges for improper relations with a minor.

The sentence in this case will be handed down next Monday by the Court in the city of Cartago. The events allegedly occurred in August 2018, when the victim was 16 years old and the defendant was 29.

During the trial, the defense insisted that there was never sexual assault and released the text messages exchanged between the player and the minor, and presented to the judges the analysis of an expert witness.

Hernández, a player for local Cartaginés, was temporarily detained on October 4, 2018, after the victim filed a complaint against him the day before.

On the day of detention, authorities raided the footballer's house in search of evidence related to the case.

In August 2020, a court issued a dismissal in favor of the footballer, but the Prosecutor's Office filed an appeal and succeeded in having the case elevated to trial.

Since being accused, the footballer has complied with precautionary measures such as reporting to sign in once a month at a court, prohibition from leaving the country, maintaining a fixed residence, and the prohibition from approaching or communicating with the victim and witnesses.

According to the defense, this process has caused harm to the player in both his personal and professional life.