Former Major League Baseball shortstop Rafael Furcal turned himself in to the jail in Broward County, Fla., to face a pair of felony charges, according to a report from Local10’s Chris Gothner.
According to court records, a pair of felony charges were filed against the 2000 National League Rookie of the Year on May 12, with Furcal facing one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of shooting into or throwing deadly missiles at a vehicle. Details on the incident leading to the charges were not readily available.
Each of the charges that Furcal faces is a second degree felony, which can carry a fine of up to $10,000 and 15 years in prison if convicted. Under Florida Statutes Section 790.19, throwing deadly missiles at a vehicle is defined as, “Whoever, wantonly or maliciously, shoots at, within, or into, or throws any missile or hurls or projects a stone or other hard substance which would produce death or great bodily harm, at, within, or in any public or private building, occupied or unoccupied, or public or private bus or any train, locomotive, railway car… or vehicle of any kind which is being used or occupied by any person, or any boat, vessel, ship, or barge lying in or plying the waters… or aircraft flying through the airspace… shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree.”
Furcal, who lives in Weston, Fla., according to court records, is no longer in custody, Local10 reported. A search of the Broward County Jail’s website shows that Furcal is no longer in custody. Court records indicate he was released on bond.
He was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated in Cobb County, Georgia, in 2000 and sentenced to probation. Four years later, he was pulled over going 88 mph in a 55 mph zone on Interstate 85 in Atlanta and again charged with driving while intoxicated.
A native of Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic, Furcal played 1,614 MLB games over 14 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Miami Marlins, winning the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year award, making three All-Star Games and winning the 2011 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played winter ball with the Aguilas Cibaenas of LIDOM in the Dominican Republic, and served as bench coach with the Aguilas last winter, working under manager Yadier Molina.
The case, No. 25005628CF10A, is pending in Broward County before Judge Michael Lynch.
Photo: Rafael Furcal is seen with festivalgoers at the Innings Festival on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
