LOS ANGELES — Trevor Bauer was back in the news this week. He posted a video in which he gave a short address that started this way: "One of the women who accused me of sexual assault just got indicted for committing felony fraud against me. Imagine that."

Bauer, the former Dodgers pitcher, has not pitched in the major leagues since 2021. Four women accused him of sexual assault; he denied all their claims and alleged each of the women had turned consensual sexual encounters into an opportunity for extortion.

So what exactly happened this week?

In 2022, an Arizona woman named Darcy Adanna Esemonu filed a lawsuit against Bauer, alleging sexual assault. Bauer countersued, claiming fraud and extortion — in particular, that she claimed he had gotten her pregnant and demanded millions. According to court filings, Esemonu never had the baby; Bauer said that was because she never was pregnant and Esemonu said that was because she miscarried.

Esemonu was indicted by a Maricopa County grand jury in March. The indictment, made public this week, charges Esemonu with two felony counts, one for fraud and one for theft by extortion. Only the count for fraud involves Bauer.

The basis for the charges has not been made public. Esemonu is scheduled to be arraigned next week.

What did Bauer say?

"Outside of Adanna — who has now been indicted with felony fraud — there are no claims against me, no ongoing investigations, and no outstanding lawsuits. At this point, I'm not sure what else I can possibly do to prove my innocence in all of this.

"I did not do what I was accused of, and every institution that our society has entrusted to rule on issues like these, like courts, judges, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, etc. … they all agree with me."

Do all these authorities agree with him?

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