North Texas skateboarder caught in Spain preventing assault fees

DALLAS, Texas — A pro skateboarder from North Texas is fighting to demonstrate his innocence in Spain soon after staying billed with a criminal offense there — one that he and his relatives say he didn’t commit. 

David DuVall, 23, produced a mid-March vacation to Barcelona with a close friend to greater his resume and to movie skateboarding outings in an exotic site, according to his father and stepmother. 

And, all functions say, the journey was likely properly for the latest UNT finance graduate from Irving, Texas — until eventually March 15.

“He essentially experienced this trip prepared for about a 12 months,” reported Eric DuVall of Van, Texas. “He explained to me it was paradise, and then I didn’t hear from him for four times.” 

According to his family members, that’s when DuVall and his good friend had been arrested. 

Officers advised DuVall’s mothers and fathers that an individual had been attacked around a skatepark in Barcelona, and that authorities experienced arrested their son for the crime.

The proof police utilized to demand DuVall was flimsy, the family members claims.

“Anyone informed the law enforcement that David had the identical coloration skateboard as the attacker — so he should have accomplished it,” DuVall’s father stated. 

Following he was arrested, the spouse and children says DuVall used three evenings and four days in jail right before getting bailed out. 

A spokesperson for the legal courts in Catalonia confirmed DuVall’s scenario with WFAA and claimed that his passport was stripped as a end result of the charges. The Catalonia criminal courts spokesperson said the skateboarder now has to appear daily just before a judicial authority in buy to continue to be out of jail. 

He also are not able to leave the nation, and will have to stay in Barcelona when his circumstance moves through the courts. 

“I feel everyone is still in shock about the situation,” his stepmother Cristi DuVall reported. “It just knocked us off our ft.” 

DuVall and his family keep that the skateboarder is innocent, and that he had almost nothing to do with the assault. 

DuVall’s father claims the 23-yr-outdated has GPS proof that he was at his small-expression rental in Barcelona — and not at the skatepark in query — when the assault transpired. 

According to Duvall’s legal professional in Barcelona, the victim in the situation has even informed law enforcement that they bought the erroneous male — and confirmed as significantly by a lineup. 

Still, the situation remains energetic, and the DuValls are burning countless numbers of bucks to increase their son’s keep in Spain right until a likely trial or dismissal arrives.

They are also spending for their son’s food stuff, his lawyer and an investigator they’ve employed to help very clear his name. 

DuVall’s spouse and children is raising cash, and is inquiring for aid with that job. 

WFAA contacted the U.S. Division of State about DuVall’s problem. A spokesperson sent the next statement:

“We are aware of the arrest of a U.S. citizen in Barcelona. We are in contact with the loved ones and offering all suitable consular guidance. Owing to privacy concerns, we have no more remark.”

Thankfully, DuVall speaks Spanish and French, so he is not completely in the darkish as all this occurs. 

Even now, his loved ones hopes all this disappears and that the 23-calendar year-outdated can appear dwelling before long

“I will do something for my son,” his father reported. “I really don’t treatment about anything at all else. He just wants to occur household.”