Wander Franco to stand trial starting Monday in sexual abuse case involving underage girl

Martin Adames · The Associated Press

· Posted: Jun 02, 2025 1:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 19 minutes ago

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is scheduled to spell to proceedings Monday successful the Dominican Republic successful a intersexual maltreatment lawsuit involving a 14-year-old girl.

Now 24, Franco was having an all-star play successful 2023 earlier Dominican authorities began investigating allegations helium had been successful a narration with a insignificant and paid her parent thousands of dollars for her consent. The proceedings was initially scheduled for Dec. 12 but was postponed until June.

Here's what to cognize astir the trial:

What are the charges against Wander Franco?

Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, intersexual and commercialized exploitation against a minor, and quality trafficking. After an probe that lasted implicit a year, justice Pascual Valenzuela of the bluish state of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, ruled successful September that the grounds presented by prosecutors was worthy of the lawsuit moving to trial.

Documents that prosecutors presented to the justice successful July and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, done his parent Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 cardinal pesos oregon $17,000 US to the parent of the insignificant connected Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse.

The parent of the insignificant has been charged with wealth laundering and is nether location arrest.

Prosecutors accidental that the minor's parent went from being a slope worker to starring an ostentatious beingness and acquiring assets utilizing the funds she received from Franco. During raids connected the location of the minor's mother, prosecutors accidental they recovered $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.

After the proceeding successful September, Franco said "everything is successful God's hands." He has different refused to talk to the media.

When is Franco's trial?

The proceedings was acceptable to statesman June 2 astatine a tribunal successful the bluish state of Puerto Plata. His lawsuit volition beryllium heard by either 3 oregon 5 judges. There are nary assemblage trials successful the Dominican Republic. The judges volition perceive the arguments from some sides and the witnesses' testimony, and past analyse the grounds and present a verdict.

The proceedings could instrumentality up to 8 months to conclude, based connected the mean duration of trials successful the Dominican Republic.

Dominican justice Yacaira Veras postponed the proceedings successful December astatine the petition of prosecutors due to the fact that of the lack of respective cardinal witnesses successful the case. Franco's lawyers asked the tribunal to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco needed to study to outpouring grooming successful mid-February.

The justice replied Franco is obligated to proceed with the proceedings docket and his conditional merchandise from detainment.

What could beryllium his condemnation if recovered guilty?

If convicted, Franco could look up to 20 years successful prison.

Is Franco being held successful jail?

Franco has been escaped connected supervised release, though helium had been required to marque monthly power visits to the judge.

He was besides arrested and granted different supervised merchandise successful November for illegally carrying a weapon successful his vehicle. The apprehension followed an statement successful an flat analyzable parking lot. Another antheral and a pistillate besides were detained successful the confrontation.

Two firearms were seized, constabulary said. Dominican justice Viamerca Ruiz said Franco needs to study to tribunal erstwhile a period portion helium is being investigated for carrying the firearm that was registered nether his uncle's name. One of Franco's lawyers said due to the fact that the weapon has a licence, "there's thing amerciable astir it."

A condemnation for illegally possessing a firearm could punctual a three- to five-year situation sentence.

Is Franco inactive being paid?

No, but helium was for astir a twelvemonth aft Dominican authorities opened their probe.

Franco, who signed an 11-year, $182-million declaration with the Rays successful 2021, was concisely placed connected the restricted database and past administrative permission successful August 2023 erstwhile Dominican authorities opened their investigation. Because administrative permission is not disciplinary nether the sport's associated home violence, intersexual battle and kid maltreatment policy, Franco was paid during that time.

Technically, determination is nary permission during the offseason, and Franco was again placed connected administrative permission astatine the commencement of the 2024 play until prosecutors filed the existent charges connected July 10. At that time, MLB placed Franco —  who had a $2 cardinal wage successful 2024 — connected its restricted list, cutting disconnected the wage helium had been receiving nether administrative leave.

He had been receiving 50 per cent of his wage connected administrative leave, a idiosyncratic acquainted with his concern told the AP, speaking connected information of anonymity due to the fact that that item had not been disclosed publicly. That meant Franco accrued $559,140, oregon fractional of his wage for 104 days of the 186-day season.

MLB is apt to hold until the Dominican proceedings is concluded earlier deciding whether determination volition beryllium immoderate discipline.