Wander Franco’s Legal Showdown: Can the Rays Star Escape Jail Time Over Abuse Allegations?

Franco will stand trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor

Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, is scheduled to go on trial for charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor, as announced by a judge in the Dominican Republic on Thursday.

Following an investigation that spanned more than a year, Judge Pascual Valenzuela from Puerto Plata determined that the evidence provided by prosecutors warranted proceeding with the trial.

A trial date is yet to be determined, and the case will be reviewed by a panel of judges since jury trials are not conducted in the Dominican Republic.

Franco faces accusations of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors brought multiple charges against him six months after a judge initiated an investigation into the alleged sexual and psychological abuse of the minor.

Franco, who has chosen not to speak to the press, attended a five-hour hearing and later commented that “everything is in God’s hands.”

Franco’s attorney, Teodosio Jaquez, stated that the outcome was anticipated, while prosecutors noted that the judge’s ruling supports the evidence provided.

“This is a strong accusation, and the court recognized that. The evidence connects the accused to the allegations,” commented prosecutor Claudio Cordero.

Franco arrived at the hearing around 9 a.m. with a somber expression. He remained quiet, listening to his lawyers and the prosecutors during the entire session.

Documents submitted by prosecutors to the judge in July, which were reviewed by The Associated Press, claimed that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos (approximately $ 17,000) to the girl’s mother on January 5, 2023, in exchange for permitting the abuse.

The mother of the girl has been charged with money laundering and is currently under house arrest.

Prosecutors allege that she transitioned from being a bank employee to leading a luxurious lifestyle and acquiring assets that she cannot explain through her income, reportedly using funds received from Franco.

During searches of her home, prosecutors claim to have discovered $68,500and$ 35,000, which they assert were given to her by Franco.

If found guilty, Franco could face up to 20 years in prison.

Franco, who turned 23 on March 1, was in the midst of his third season in Major League Baseball when his career came to an abrupt halt in August 2023. He signed an 11-year, $ 182 million contract in November 2021.

Last month, the Tampa Bay Rays placed Franco on the restricted list, stopping the payments he had been receiving while on administrative leave.