Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (AP) – Wander Franco, the suspended Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop charged A case of sexual abuse, was found guilty on Thursday, but was given a conditional punishment of two years.
Franco was arrested last year after being accused of a relationship of four months A girl who was 14 at that time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to agree The illegal relationship.
Franco, now 24, was also confronted with accusations of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, but was not found guilty of it.
Judge Jakayra Veras García said Franco made a bad decision while she spoke to him during the ruling.
“Look at us, walk,” she said. “Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people your age, you have to wait your time.”
Prosecutors had asked a five -year prison sentence against Franco and a 10 -year prison sentence against the girl of the girl who was found guilty and will serve the full period.
“Apparently she was the one who thought she used the bat in the large competitions,” said Veras about the mother and her request that Franco paid for the training and other costs of her daughter.
Franco’s lawyer, Irina Ventura, said she would appeal against the judge’s decision: “Apparently justice was not done.”
In the meantime, the public prosecutor Luis Martínez said he was satisfied with the statements, but did not say whether the government would appeal.
Before the three judges gave their unanimous pronunciation, Veras assessed the abundant amount of evidence that prosecutors presented during the trial, including certain testimonies of 31 witnesses.
“This is a somewhat complex process,” said Veras.
More than an hour after her presentation, Veras said: “The court understood that this minor was manipulated.”
While the judge continued her review, Franco looked at expressionless forward and occasionally leaned forward.
Franco, who was once the shortstop of the team, had signed a contract of $ 182 million and 11 years until 2032, but saw his career abruptly stopped in August 2023 after the authorities in the Dominican Republic had announced that they are investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was then 22.
In January 2024, the authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the limited list, which reduced the wages he had received during administrative leave.
He was placed on that list because he was unable to report to the team and would need a new American visa for that.
While Franco a trial was waiting for conditional release, he was again arrested in November last year after what the Dominican authorities called a fight about the attention of a woman. He was accused of Illegally wear a semi -automatic glock 19 That police said that his uncle was registered.
That case is still pending before the court.
After the ruling, Major League Baseball issued a short statement in which it was noted that it had jointly negotiated a joint domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse policy “that our dedication to these issues is reflected.”
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco process and we will conclude our research at the right time,” said MLB.
Associated Press writers Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Ron Blum in New York have contributed.
