SANTO DOMINGO — Wander Franco, the shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, faced charges for illegally carrying a firearm in his vehicle following an incident in a parking lot that resulted in his arrest over the weekend, according to Dominican Republic prosecutors.
The attorney general’s office released a statement indicating that a Glock handgun, equipped with a 15-round magazine, was discovered inside the Mercedes Benz that Franco was driving. This incident reportedly stemmed from a confrontation regarding a woman’s attention. It was noted that the gun belonged to Franco’s uncle.
Franco, who is 23 years old, is currently awaiting trial on separate charges related to sexual abuse of a minor. His arrest occurred on Sunday after an argument broke out in a parking area of an apartment complex in San Juan de la Maguana.
In addition to Franco, another man and a woman were taken into custody during the armed disagreement. Authorities indicated that two firearms were confiscated amidst the situation. Fortunately, prosecutors stated that no injuries occurred during the altercation, and both parties involved chose not to pursue charges against one another.
If convicted for the illegal possession of a firearm, Franco could face a prison sentence ranging from three to five years. Currently, he is scheduled for trial on December 12 in Puerto Plata regarding the sexual abuse allegations involving a 14-year-old girl. He has been charged with both sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, as well as human trafficking.
Franco was conditionally released on January 5, just four days after his arrest on the abuse charges. While he has not publicly addressed the media, he has expressed that he leaves his situation in “God’s hands.”
Franco’s baseball career was interrupted in August 2023 while he was in the midst of his third season in Major League Baseball. In November 2021, he signed an extensive 11-year contract worth $182 million. Following the controversies, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list on July 10, which terminated his salary while he remained on administrative leave.
