Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is set to stand trial in the Dominican Republic on Thursday in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. The 23-year-old Franco, who was having an All-Star season in 2023, faces charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.
The investigation, which lasted over a year, led to Judge Pascual Valenzuela ruling that there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Prosecutors allege that Franco transferred $17,000 to the minor's mother for her consent to the abuse. The mother has been charged with money laundering and is under house arrest.
If found guilty, Franco could face up to 20 years in prison. The trial is scheduled to take place in the northern province of Puerto Plata and will be heard by a panel of judges. Franco has been free on supervised release but was arrested in November for illegally carrying a gun in his vehicle.
Despite being paid during the initial stages of the investigation, Franco's salary was cut off when MLB placed him on the restricted list after the charges were filed. MLB is expected to wait for the trial's conclusion before deciding on any disciplinary action.
The trial could last up to eight months, based on the average duration of trials in the Dominican Republic. Franco has refrained from speaking to the media about the case, stating that 'everything is in God's hands.'
It remains to be seen how the trial will unfold and what the outcome will be for Wander Franco in this high-profile case.
