PUERTO LA PLATA, Dominican Republic — The legal representative for Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop, revealed plans on Monday to request the court to clear his client of all allegations in a case concerning sexual abuse of a minor. The minor in question was reportedly 14 years old during the alleged incidents. Franco has been facing legal action since July 2024 and remains on supervised release. Upon conviction, he might confront a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years.
Teodosio Jáquez, the attorney for Franco, asserted outside the Collegiate Court of Puerto Plata that Franco did not engage in the acts he’s accused of. Jáquez argued that, while the prosecution must bring forth accusations, it is ultimately their responsibility to substantiate these claims with concrete evidence. The case is unfolding in Puerto Plata, a northern Dominican city known for its tourist attractions and also the hometown of the young girl involved.
The prosecution posits that witness testimonies have played a crucial role in establishing that Franco engaged in sexual interactions with a minor and provided financial compensation to the girl’s mother for her consent. Claudio Cordero, speaking on behalf of the prosecution, asserted that the statements of expert witnesses were pivotal, not only in affirming the alleged child sexual abuse but also in supporting claims of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering.
In court documents submitted last year, which were verified by members of the press, the prosecutors claimed that Franco facilitated a monetary transfer to the girl’s mother, via his own mother, Yudelka Aybar. The transfer amounted to 1 million pesos, approximately $17,000, allegedly meant to secure the mother’s consent to the unlawful acts. The mother has faced charges for money laundering and is currently subjected to house arrest.
Franco faces additional charges that encompass sexual exploitation of a minor for commercial gain and human trafficking. Additionally, on a recent Sunday, Franco was indicted for the unlawful possession of a firearm. The incident leading to these charges occurred on November 10 in San Juan de la Maguana, where Franco was detained after a parking lot altercation. Though no injuries were recorded during this confrontation, authorities discovered a semiautomatic Glock 19 in Franco’s vehicle, as reported by the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Franco’s attorney contends that the weapon does not belong to Franco and attributes the firearm to another individual. “This is a celebrity, and some media outlets are perverse in trying to harm that young man,” Jáquez remarked, emphasizing the media’s role in amplifying the case against Franco.
Wander Franco, who celebrated his 24th birthday on March 1, was partway through his third season in Major League Baseball when his career came to an abrupt stop in August 2023. The athlete had previously secured an impressive 11-year contract worth $182 million in November 2021. In response to the allegations, Franco remains on MLB’s restricted list, following an earlier placement on administrative leave.