PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — Wander Franco, the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop charged in a sexual abuse case, was discovered responsible on Thursday however acquired a two-year suspended sentence.
Franco was arrested final 12 months after being accused of getting a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 on the time, and of transferring 1000’s of {dollars} to her mom to consent to the illegal relationship.
Franco, now 24, additionally confronted fees of sexual and business exploitation in opposition to a minor, and human trafficking, however was discovered not responsible of these.
Decide Jakayra Veras García stated Franco made a nasty determination as she addressed him through the ruling.
“Have a look at us, Wander,” she stated. “Don’t strategy minors for sexual functions. For those who don’t like individuals very near your age, you need to wait your time.”
Prosecutors had requested a five-year jail sentence in opposition to Franco and a 10-year sentence in opposition to the woman’s mom, who was discovered responsible and can serve the total time period.
“Apparently she was the one who thought she was dealing with the bat within the massive leagues,” Veras stated of the mom and her request that Franco pay for her daughter’s education and different bills.
Franco’s lawyer, Irina Ventura, stated she would attraction the decide’s ruling: “Evidently, justice was not performed.”
In the meantime, prosecutor Luis Martínez stated he was happy with the rulings however didn’t say whether or not the federal government would attraction.
Earlier than the three judges issued their unanimous ruling, Veras orally reviewed the copious quantity of proof that prosecutors offered throughout trial, together with sure testimony from 31 witnesses.
“This can be a considerably advanced course of,” Veras stated.
Greater than an hour into her presentation, Veras stated: “The court docket has understood that this minor was manipulated.”
Because the decide continued her assessment, Franco appeared forward expressionless, leaning ahead at occasions.
Franco, who was as soon as the staff’s star shortstop, had signed a $182 million, 11-year contract by 2032 in November 2021 however noticed his profession abruptly halted in August 2023 after authorities within the Dominican Republic introduced they had been investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 on the time.
In January 2024, authorities arrested Franco within the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay positioned him on the restricted checklist, which reduce off the pay he had been receiving whereas on administrative depart.
He was positioned on that checklist as a result of he has not been in a position to report back to the staff and would want a brand new U.S. visa to take action.
Whereas Franco awaited trial on conditional launch, he was arrested once more in November final 12 months following what Dominican authorities known as an altercation over a girl’s consideration. He was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 that police stated was registered to his uncle.
That case continues to be pending in court docket.
After the ruling, Main League Baseball issued a short assertion noting it had collectively bargained a joint home violence, sexual assault and youngster abuse coverage “that displays our dedication to those points.”
“We’re conscious of in the present day’s verdict within the Wander Franco trial and can conclude our investigation on the acceptable time,” MLB stated.
Related Press writers Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Ron Blum in New York contributed.
