Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have asked that suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco be sentenced to five years in prison amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a minor, according to The Associated Press.
Franco is facing sexual abuse charges in his home country after allegations that he was involved with a 14-year-old. Prosecutors said in court that there is sufficient evidence to prove that he had a relationship with the minor for four months and that he also transferred large sums of money to the child’s mother.
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After raiding the home of the minor’s mother, police said they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco. Prosecutors are also requesting that the mother be sentenced to 10 years in prison on sex trafficking charges.
Franco’s lawyers asked the court to clear Franco of the charges.
“What is Wander? Is he an accomplice of (the mother), or is he the material author of the criminal conspiracy offense?” said Irina Ventura, one of Franco’s lawyers, via The Associated Press.
Franco was hit with more charges earlier this monthtoo, after a November altercation with another man. He was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm after police said they found a gun in his vehicle following the incident.
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Franco was in the middle of a breakout season in the major leagues when allegations of his sexual abuse surfaced in 2023. The 24-year-old, who signed an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Rays in 2021, was placed on the restricted list by the Rays in August 2023, and MLB put him on administrative leave under the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. He has not played in a game since then.
The league’s investigation into Franco is ongoing. His trial, which was initially scheduled to start in December, began on June 2. He was initially facing up to 30 years in prison, and he has been free on supervised release.
