Wander Franco, the suspended shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic on Thursday but avoided jail time after receiving a two-year suspended sentence.
Franco, 24, was arrested in 2023 after being accused of maintaining a four-month sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21. Prosecutors also alleged that Franco transferred thousands of dollars to the girl’s mother in exchange for her consent to the illegal relationship.
The MLB player faced serious criminal charges, including sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking. Dominican authorities also brought separate weapons charges in a second case still pending in court.
Prosecutors requested five-year prison term for Franco
The prosecution had requested a five-year sentence for Franco and a 10-year sentence for the girl’s mother. While the court found both guilty, Franco received a suspended sentence, while the mother was ordered to serve her full term.
During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Jakayra Veras García delivered a detailed review of the evidence, including testimony from 31 witnesses, before the three-judge panel issued a unanimous decision. “The court has understood that this minor was manipulated,” the judge stated, calling it a “complex process.”
Franco remained expressionless throughout most of the proceedings.
Career on hold since 2023
Franco’s MLB career was placed on hold in August 2023, shortly after Dominican authorities confirmed the investigation. He had previously signed a $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021, which was supposed to run through 2032.
In January 2024, Franco was arrested and later released under supervision while awaiting trial. In June, the Tampa Bay Rays placed him on the restricted list, ending the salary payments he had been receiving while on administrative leave. His return to MLB is now further complicated by visa issues and ongoing legal problems.
Additional charges still pending
While awaiting trial, Franco was arrested again in November 2024 following an alleged altercation over a woman’s attention. Authorities reported that Franco was in possession of an unregistered Glock 19, later confirmed to be registered to his uncle. He now faces firearms charges, and that case remains pending in court.
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