(Photo by Eva Rinaldi, from Flickr)
International superstar Ricky Martin has had the case against him dismissed.
Martin was accused by his 21-year-old nephew Dennis Yadiel Sanchez of physically and emotionally abusing him during a 7-month-long sexual relationship he alleged the two had together.
Sanchez filed a domestic restraining order against the 50-year-old singer-actor in a Puerto Rican court earlier this month. Sanchez claimed he tried to end the relationship earlier this year, but Martin refused to accept it and continued harassing Sanchez in the following months.
Sanchez withdrew his claims in a July 21 court appearance.
“Just as we had anticipated, the temporary protection order was not extended by the Court,” a statement from Martin’s legal team reads. “The accuser confirmed to the court that his decision to dismiss the matter was his alone, without any outside influence or pressure, and the accuser confirmed he was satisfied with his legal representation in the matter. The request came from the accuser asking to dismiss the case. This was never anything more than a troubled individual making false allegations with absolutely nothing to substantiate them. We are glad that our client saw justice done and can now move forward with his life and his career.”
Martin has denied the allegations the entire time, with his lawyers saying in a July 15 statement “Ricky Martin has, of course, never been — and would never be — involved in any kind of sexual or romantic relationship with his nephew. The idea is not only untrue, it is disgusting. We all hope that this man gets the help he so urgently needs. But, most of all, we look forward to this awful case being dismissed as soon as a judge gets to look at the facts.”
Under Puerto Rican law, Martin was facing up to 50 years in prison if he had been found guilty of having a romantic relationship with a relative.
