Indians’ Pitcher Mesa Faces Charges Of Carrying Gun, Fondling

Cleveland Indians pitcher Jose Mesa and another man were arrested Saturday on felony charges of fondling and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police said two 26-year-old women reported that Mesa, 30, and David Blanco, 34, fondled them in a motel room in suburban Lakewood on Dec. 22.

Arrest warrants for the men were issued on Friday.

Later that night, when Blanco went to the jail in Lakewood to bail out Mesa, he also was taken into custody.

Both men were charged with gross sexual imposition and released on $5,000 bond. They were scheduled to appear in Lakewood Municipal Court on Jan. 7.

According to reports, after meeting the men in an area of downtown Cleveland, Mesa put a purse belonging to one of the women around his neck and went to his car. He refused to return it and drove off with the woman, while Blanco and the other woman followed in separate vehicles.

When they arrived at the motel room, the purse owner entered with the intention of getting her purse back and leaving. Once inside, Mesa and Blanco allegedly started fondling the women, who resisted. The men then left.

Police said both men had loaded 9 mm handguns in their vehicles when they were arrested, so the weapons charges were added.