SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake player Juan Sebastian Velasquez pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of driving under the influence.
Velasquez, a midfielder, was stopped on May 19 for driving 84 in a 65 mph zone, according to a probable cause statement from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
During the stop police say they could smell the odor of alcohol. The soccer player failed a field sobriety test and was arrested on a DUI charge, a class b misdemeanor and speeding, a class c misdemeanor.
Velasquez had a .199 blood alcohol content level, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Velasquez will appear in the Salt Lake City Justice Court on Aug. 20 for a pretrial.
Velasquez last played with the team on May 17.
According to the team’s roster on the RSL website, the midfielder was listed as an unused sub during their last game on Saturday against Seattle.
RSL released the following statement:
As a matter of League policy, there is a protocol to be followed in these situations under the Joint Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. We have followed the initial steps of that program and we hope Sebastian will rejoin the team in training by the end of the week.
