Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been declared criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but will not serve a prison sentence, a Dominican judge ruled on Monday.
Judge José Antonio Núñez considered that Franco had been the victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor's mother, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter. Franco was arrested in January 2024 over allegations of a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother.
After the ruling, Franco left the courthouse alongside his lawyer, Teodosio Jaquez, and told reporters: 'I feel calm.' He asked fans to 'continue supporting me and trusting in me.' Jaquez stated that Franco was exempted from punishment because the court established he was also a victim and granted a judicial pardon.
Franco signed an 11-year, $182m contract with the Rays in November 2021, but his career was disrupted when authorities in the Dominican Republic began investigating him in August 2023. He was 22 at the time of the alleged relationship. Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list six months after his arrest, cutting off his pay.
