Wander Franco, the shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, will face trial on charges of sexually abusing a minor, according to a ruling by a judge in the Dominican Republic on Thursday. Judge Pascual Valenzuela of Puerto Plata determined that the evidence presented by prosecutors warranted proceeding to trial after an investigation lasting over a year.
No trial date has been established, as cases in the Dominican Republic are decided by a panel of judges rather than a jury. Franco has been charged with the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. The charges were filed six months after a judge ordered an investigation into allegations of sexual and psychological abuse involving the girl.
Franco, who has declined media commentary, attended a five-hour hearing, expressing afterward, “everything is in God’s hands.” His lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, stated that the outcome was anticipated, while prosecutors asserted that the judge’s decision reinforced the validity of their evidence. Prosecutor Claudio Cordero remarked, “It’s a solid accusation and the court understood it. The evidence linked the defendants to what’s described in the accusation.”
Franco arrived at the hearing early in the morning, maintaining silence as he listened to his legal team and the prosecution. Evidence submitted by prosecutors in July, which was reviewed by The Associated Press, suggested that Franco transferred 1 million pesos (approximately $17,000) to the mother of the minor on January 5, 2023, in an effort to gain her consent for the alleged abuse. The minor’s mother has since been charged with money laundering and is currently under house arrest.
Prosecutors allege that the mother transitioned from a bank employee to living a lavish lifestyle, acquiring unexplainable assets with the funds she received from Franco. During searches of her residence, authorities claim to have uncovered $68,500 and $35,000, which they allege were provided by Franco.
If convicted, Franco faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. He turned 23 on March 1 and was in his third season in Major League Baseball when his career was interrupted in August 2023. In November 2021, he signed an 11-year, $182 million contract. Following these developments, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list last month, terminating his pay while on administrative leave.
