Wander Franco found guilty of s*xually abusing a minor in the Dominican Republic.
Major League Baseball player Wander Franco has been convicted in his home country of the Dominican Republic for s*xually abusing a 14-year-old girl, following a months-long investigation and trial.
Franco, 24, was found guilty by a court in Puerto Plata, which ruled unanimously that he engaged in an illegal relationship with the underage girl. The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop had been facing multiple charges, but was ultimately convicted only on the charge of s*xual abuse of a minor.
Court Issues Suspended Sentence
Despite prosecutors pushing for a five-year prison term, the court handed Franco a two-year suspended sentence, meaning he will not serve prison time unless he violates court-imposed conditions. The ruling was delivered by a three-judge panel of the Puerto Plata Collegiate Court.
“Do not approach minors for s*xual purposes,” Judge Jakayra Veras García warned Franco during sentencing, as reported by the Associated Press. “If you don’t like people close to your age, you have to wait your time.”
More Serious Charges Dismissed
While Franco was originally charged with s*xual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking, the court did not find sufficient evidence to convict him on those counts. Still, the court concluded that the baseball star manipulated the teenager during a relationship that allegedly began when Franco was 21.
Victim’s Mother Also Sentenced
Prosecutors argued that Franco paid the girl’s mother for her consent. The court found the mother guilty of trafficking her own daughter and sentenced her to 10 years in prison. Authorities also ordered the seizure of all property and money she received from Franco in connection to the case.
“The court has understood that this minor was manipulated,” said Judge Veras after reviewing the prosecution’s evidence.
Franco’s Defense Responds
Franco maintained his innocence throughout the trial. “We expect justice,” he told the court earlier this week. His attorney, Irina Ventura, criticized the ruling and said they plan to appeal. “Justice was not done,” Ventura stated.
MLB Reacts
Franco has been on MLB’s restricted list since July 2024 and hasn’t played professionally since the allegations surfaced in August 2023.
In a statement, Major League Baseball said:
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time. Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, S*xual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues.”
The league has not yet confirmed whether Franco will face further disciplinary action under that policy.
