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Real Salt Lake's Ricardo Velazco charged with unlawful sex with a minor

Major League Soccer has suspended Real Salt Lake forward Ricardo Velazco after he was charged with unlawful sex with a minor, a third-degree felony.

Charges were filed on Thursday for a May 20 incident involving a 15-year-old girl in Draper, Utah. Velazco was 23 at the time.

A warrant for Velazco's arrest was issued, and he was expected to surrender on Friday, his attorney told the Deseret News. Greg Skorda also said  Velazco had given a statement to police early in the investigation, and that "he has tried to be cooperative."

An MLS statement said Velazco has been suspended from all soccer-related activity, and that the league would cooperate fully while also conducting its own investigation.

Real Salt Lake added in its own statemant: "With all allegations of a criminal nature, Real Salt Lake policy is to honor the judicial process while cooperating fully with both local authorities as well as the League investigation.

"Major League Soccer has now suspended Mr. Velazco from all soccer-related activity, Real Salt Lake will await the outcome of judicial proceedings prior to taking additional action. RSL will not have further comment during pending legal proceedings."

Velasco, a little-used substitute for RSL, has appeared in nine MLS games this season, starting just once. He also started and scored in a U.S. Open Cup defeat in June.

He was already set to be sidelined for three months after having surgery on his ankle in July. The former Louisville striker last played on July 4.

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