Polonia Freed to Play Ball; Return to Jail Set for Feb. 1

New York Yankees outfielder Luis Polonia, who was sentenced to 60 days for having sex with a 15-year-old girl, was temporarily released today after serving nearly half the term.

Polonia’s attorney, Dennis P. Coffey, filed a motion Tuesday, asking Circuit Judge Thomas Doherty to modify the sentence to the time served.

The judge denied that motion, but said he would stay the balance of the sentence as suggested by Milwaukee County Assistant District Atty. John DiMotto with the approval of the girl’s family.

Polonia is a native of Santiago City, Dominican Republic, and his visa expired Tuesday.

The judge, who actually signed the release order today, said the baseball player was being ordered to return Feb. 1 to Milwaukee to serve the balance of his sentence.

Doherty said that, if Polonia is not granted another employment visa to return to the United States, he must do 90 hours of community service in the Dominican Republic.

Polonia “certainly didn’t get preferential treatment,” Coffey said. “The amendment the court made simply allows Mr. Polonia to comply with orders of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and it permits him to fulfill a contract he has with a team in the Dominican Republic for winter ball.”

Polonia, 24, pleaded no contest in August to a charge of having sexual intercourse with a child. Besides the jail sentence, he was fined $1,500 and ordered to contribute $10,000 to the Sinai Samaritan Medical Center’s sexual assault treatment center.

Under Wisconsin law, an adult may not have intercourse with a child under the age of 16, even if the child consents.