The defense attorney for Rafael “Barata” de Freitas has released a prepared statement calling his client “absolutely innocent” of the sexual assault charges brought against him.
Attorney Jason Bowles of Bowles Law Firm issued the statement on Wednesday, which addresses the alleged incident that occurred on November 7. De Freitas, a BJJ black belt and instructor, has been charged with criminal sexual penetration after being accused of drugging and raping a student.
The statement acknowledges a consensual sexual encounter between de Freitas and the alleged victim, but says that Freitas’ name has been “falsely maligned” due to the charges brought against him. The statement also says that the alleged victim “poured alcohol and had liquid THC” during her encounter with Freitas and that her statements to the police suggest that she had “motives” to file the charges, which Bowles claims are “false.”
The woman told police that she had invited de Freitas to her home for breakfast and a massage after complaining about cramping. The detective who took the alleged victim’s statement says that security camera footage from the woman’s living room shows her getting up to go to the bathroom, at which point de Freitas “possibly” drops something into the woman’s glass of orange juice. She said that after about thirty minutes, she began feeling sleepy and passed out, and when she awoke, her pants and underwear had been removed. Further details about the case can be found here.
You can read Bowles’ full statement below:
“We represent Rafael de Freitas Barata, a well loved and very accomplished jujitsu practitioner. To date, the public has received one-sided reports of sexual assault based on the word of the alleged victim and a video, which no news agency or the public has seen. We have now watched the video. Let us be clear: these charges are false. The video proves Mr. de Freitas’ innocence of a crime. We will present evidence that she invited Mr. de Freitas over that morning in texts, poured alcohol and had liquid THC, and her actions and responses during the video reflect a completely consensual encounter. Her statements to police also show that she had had motives to bring these false charges. Mr. de Freitas willingly admits and is remorseful about making a terrible error in his marriage and towards his wife. But he is absolutely innocent of any criminal sexual assault and his and his family’s name and reputation have been falsely maligned. We are asking everyone to reserve judgment until all of the evidence is presented in Court.”
