Glendale High’s Jesse Meaux court hearing continued three months

For the next few months and probably longer, the fate of Glendale High alumnus Jesse Meaux will remain in limbo.

The 24-year-old current Colorado Rockies minor league pitching prospect was in Buncombe County District Court in Asheville, NC on Friday morning along with 23-year-old teammate Michael Mason.

Both have been charged with two counts each of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual offense (four total counts apiece). Each offense is classified as a B1 felony in North Carolina and carries a range of potential sentences based on prior offenses, with a minimum of 12 years per charge.

Court proceedings, which began at 9:30 a.m. EDT, wrapped up with judge Calvin Hill ordering the hearing continued on Nov. 22 back at district court.

No pleas were entered by either defendant.

Calls to Meaux’s attorney, Al Messer, were not returned. Meaux, who turned 24 on Aug. 8, was advised not to comment.

“It’s not surprising that this isn’t going to trial soon,” said Sgt. Dave Romick, the Asheville Police Department Public Information Officer. “There will be court appearances, but this is a slow process. This sort of thing takes time.”

An incident report and subsequent arrest report shed some light on the allegations behind the charges levied against Meaux and Mason.

It was initially reported that Meaux and Mason were charged with only one count of rape and sex offense each.

However, the arrest warrant confirmed that both players were instead given two counts of first-degree rape and first-degree sex offense for the alleged incident on July 27 at an apartment complex of the Asheville Tourists baseball team, the minor league low class-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, to which Meaux and Mason were both players.

The alleged incident took place at 4:32 a.m. and involved a 19-year-old female.

The incident report states activity included, “Sex acts/rape or attempt, force used/held down, sex.”

According to the incident report, no weapon was used nor injuries suffered, but drugs and/or alcohol were involved.

An arrest warrant was issued Aug. 1 around 7:30 p.m. and Meaux and Mason were taken into custody shortly after.

The following day, Meaux and Mason first appeared in court, where Meaux posted $100,000 bail, with each offense tallying $25,000. Mason did not post bail and was incarcerated until Aug. 16, when the Asheville Citizen reported he “entered into a pretrial release program.”

On Aug. 2, Hill informed both men that they could face the possibility of life in prison without parole. Hill also mandated that neither was allowed to leave Buncombe County.

Last week, however, both defendants had that order relaxed as the court allowed Mason to Meaux to leave the county under supervision.

Both players remain suspended by the Rockies organization.