The continuing saga of Alfredo Simon
Right-handed reliever Alfredo Simon is in Florida, has passed his physical and will work out at the Orioles’ minor-league complex in Sarasota.
That much we know. The rest is still sketchy.
Simon, who had been detained for more than two months in the fatal shooting of his cousin during a New Year’s Day celebration in the Dominican Republic, arrived in Florida on Saturday with a work visa. That gave the appearance that he wouldn’t be charged in the murder.
But the case’s lead prosecutor told CNN that a forensics investigation has afforded his office “enough to proceed” with charges, and that they could come as early as this week.
One of Simon’s Dominican attorneys, however, told CNN that the forensics reports favor her client and that the prosecutor’s office is being pressured by the Dominican media to press charges.
Simon, his American agents and the Orioles are not commenting on the case. There is some sense among Simon’s camp that if charges are not filed this week, they will not be. However, timelines and reports of charges have fluctuated dramatically during the case.
In January, several outlets alleged that Simon had been charged with murder, while his representation continually denied those reports, saying he was being held in custody without proper charges, which is not unusual in the Dominican.
Simon is currently on baseball’s restricted list.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Dan,
The fact the Simon apparently paid off the victim's family to keep them quiet doesn't look very good If he is innocent, why would he do that? Or did I misread the earlier stories coming out of the Dominican?
Posted by: Gil | April 6, 2011 11:41 AM
If that happened, Gil, I might tend to agree with you, but at the same time, settlements don't always = guilt.
If Simon is innocent, but knows that by paying the family X amount of dollars, he can go back to the States, resume baseball and put the whole mess behind him, he may decide it's worth it.
Posted by: Christopher | April 6, 2011 12:13 PM
The so-called "reporter" Jorge Pineda, who reported this "story" to cnn and whom is the editor at Dominican Today, has NOTHING about this at Dominican Today! That's because there is NO TRUTH to any of this!
Posted by: iowagyrl | April 6, 2011 12:46 PM
At the bottom of this is a model of justice that allows direct compensation to the injured party to be made. In this case the family is compensated directly by the "perpetrator." Even though Simon is not guilty, he is solvent and can relieve in some degree the affront. The question of guilt or innocence are not the central issue under such a system of justice. What matters is restoration of balance.
Posted by: AndrewK | April 6, 2011 12:49 PM
Christopher everything you posted is correct! The system of "justice" in the DR is much different than it is here!
Posted by: iowagyrl | April 6, 2011 12:49 PM
I never read anythin about any pay off but I'm fairly certain that I did read that the perosn that was shot was somehow related or a friend of Simon's so that may be another reason that he would feel inclined to give the family if he in fact did. Just a thought
Posted by: Garrett | April 6, 2011 1:37 PM
this all stinks, a man close to me is dead, the family has NOT been paid, and the culpret ( who ran off for 2 days after it happened ) is free....WRONG SO WRONG!
Posted by: concerned | May 2, 2011 12:06 PM