A Brazilian jiujitsu champion and instructor at the famous Jackson-Wink MMA Academy has been arrested, jailed and accused of drugging and raping a client last month.
Rafael Freitas, 37, aka Barata, famous for having invented the famous BJJ technique Barataplata has been charged with criminal sexual penetration in the Nov. 7 incident according to Albuquerque Journal.
The female client captured the alleged assault on a security camera in her living room, according to court records.
Barata is a grappling instructor at Jackson Wink MMA Academy, home to champions Jon Jones, Holly Holm and many others.
James Hallinan, a spokesman for Jackson Wink now has distanced the gym from Barata. He said:
“All I’ve been told is he is not an employee of Jackson Wink Academy and he never has been. If the website hasn’t been updated, it’s in the process right now.”
The web page has since been deleted.
Freitas is also chief instructor of Gracie Barra New Mexico Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy.
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According to the criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court:
“On Nov. 17, a woman reported the rape to a detective and said it happened at her home during a Nov. 7 session with the trainer. She said she had been taking lessons from Freitas for several years and on that day was having him massage her legs due to recent cramping.
The woman said that Freitas is flirtatious with her and several other women he trains, that she “at times found his behavior inappropriate” and that there was never any romantic relationship between the two.
The woman told police she drank half a glass of wine and then ate breakfast and drank orange juice with Freitas before the session. She said she went to the bathroom and came out to find Freitas had prepared her a second glass of orange juice.
The woman told police she added a shot of whiskey and ginger ale to the drink and about 30 minutes later began “feeling sleepy” as Freitas massaged her legs. She said that she “quickly passed out” and awoke hours later, naked from the waist down, and that Freitas was gone.
The woman told police she messaged Freitas, saying she was embarrassed and asked Freitas about her being naked and he replied, “Yeah, you were fine don’t feel this way at all you’re good.”
She said she remembered she had a security camera installed in her living room and gave a copy of the video to police.
According to a detective’s description, the video shows Freitas “possibly” drop something into the woman’s orange juice, while she was in the bathroom, as his hand makes a “flicking” motion over the glass.
After Freitas begins the massage, the woman’s legs appear to get “heavy” like “dead weight.” The detective says Freitas is seen removing her shorts and appears to force oral sex on her while she is passed out.
The detective says that before leaving the house, Freitas takes the woman’s hand – her arm appearing “limp” – and rubbed it on his genitals. After Freitas left, the woman stayed motionless on the couch for 50 minutes before sitting up.”
