Santi Mina: Why the Spanish footballer was sentenced to 4 years in prison

Spanish soccer player Santiago Mina Lorenzo has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexual abuse, a sentence he will appeal.

The 26-year-old man is accused of raping a woman in a passenger car in 2017. The woman had an affair with David Goldar, another Spanish footballer who plays for second division team Ibiza.

Goldar was found not guilty after being accused of being an accomplice. The woman’s attorney argued that Goldar did nothing to stop Mina from raping her.

Mina was also previously charged with sexual assault, an allegation involving threats or violence against a victim, but the charge has since been dropped.

Mina has spent most of her career with local team Celta. He joined their youth team in 2005 before jumping into the senior team’s second line-up in 2012.

After 13 league appearances and eight goals, Mina moved up to the first team. He made his debut for the team in February 2013 and became the team’s youngest goalscorer in the first division at 17 years 9 months old, scoring in a 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao.

In 2015, Mina moved to Valencia after signing a six-year contract for 10 million euros.

His first goal for the La Liga side came in December of the same year, in the final four minutes to secure a 1-1 draw for his side against FC Barcelona.

Mina made 117 appearances in four years, scoring 29 goals during a spell for Valencia.

After four years with Valencia, Mina has returned to her boyhood club with a five-year contract. He made 101 appearances during his second term at Celta while scoring 25 goals.

Mina’s only real honor came in the 2018/19 season with Valencia when he was part of the team that won the Copa del Rey.

In December 2019, Mina was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident that occurred two years earlier.

Three years on from the original allegation, Mina has now been found guilty of sexual abuse. State prosecutors are asking for eight years in prison while the victim’s attorneys are hoping for nine and a half years.

The lower court’s ruling can (and according to Mina) be appealed to the Supreme Court of Spain. According to Spanish news agency EFE, Mina’s defense team said that the appeal would be based on errors made during the trial.

In addition to those 4 years, Mina also received a restraining order banning him from accessing the victim for the next 12 years.

The 26-year-old was also ordered to pay €50,000 in damages.

Celta removed Mina from the team while the appeals process was ongoing and they also opened disciplinary proceedings against him.

In a statement from RC Celta, the club said: “RC respects the player’s right to protection, but is required to take measures against scandalous incidents that tarnish the club’s image. and a direct attack on the values ​​of the club.”