Dominican court finds Rays’ Franco criminally liable but spares him jail time
Wander Franco avoids incarceration following ruling on abuse allegations, though his contractual status with Tampa Bay remains unresolved.
A Dominican judge has declared Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, yet ruled that he will not serve a jail sentence. Judge José Antonio Núñez delivered the decision in Puerto Plata on Monday, determining that while Franco’s actions constituted a crime, he was also a victim of extortion and blackmail orchestrated by the minor’s mother.
The court sentenced the minor’s mother to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter. Authorities had alleged that Franco, who was 22 at the time of the initial investigation, engaged in a four-month relationship with the girl when she was 14. Prosecutors further claimed he transferred thousands of dollars to the mother to secure consent for the relationship.
Franco was arrested in January 2024 following these allegations. His lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, stated that the exemption from punishment was granted through a judicial pardon and the court’s finding that Franco was a victim of the circumstances. Jáquez noted that while the legal outcome was favourable, the team was awaiting the physical copy of the sentence to provide further details on the specific legal mechanisms involved.
Following the ruling, Franco left the courthouse alongside his legal counsel and addressed reporters, stating he felt calm and asking fans to continue supporting him. He confirmed that he had not personally contacted the Tampa Bay Rays regarding the decision, though he acknowledged his lawyers likely had done so.
The legal proceedings have significantly impacted Franco’s professional standing. He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021, but his career was disrupted when Dominican authorities announced an investigation in August 2023. Six months later, the team placed him on the restricted list, cutting off the salary he had been receiving while on administrative leave.
