Rays’ Wander Franco found guilty in sex abuse case, receives 2-year suspended sentence
Wander Franco Receives Two-Year Suspended Sentence in Sexual Abuse Case
Wander Franco, the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, was found guilty in a sexual abuse case on Thursday but received a two-year suspended sentence. The 24-year-old was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship. Franco also faced charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, as well as human trafficking, but was found not guilty of those charges.
During the ruling, Judge Jakayra Veras Garcia addressed Franco, stating that he had made a bad decision. She emphasized the importance of not approaching minors for sexual purposes and advised him to wait for individuals closer to his age. The prosecution had requested a five-year prison sentence for Franco and a 10-year sentence for the girl’s mother, who was found guilty and will serve the full term.
Franco to Appeal Ruling
Franco’s attorney, Irina Ventura, announced plans to appeal the judge’s ruling, citing a belief that justice was not served. Meanwhile, prosecutor Luis Martinez expressed satisfaction with the rulings but did not confirm whether the government would appeal.
Prior to issuing the unanimous ruling, Judge Veras Garcia reviewed the extensive evidence presented by prosecutors during the trial, which included testimonies from 31 witnesses. She highlighted the complexity of the case and acknowledged that the minor involved had been manipulated.
Despite once being the team’s star shortstop and signing a lucrative contract in November 2021, Franco saw his career come to a halt in August 2023 when authorities in the Dominican Republic launched an investigation into his alleged relationship with a minor. Subsequently, he was arrested in January 2024 and placed on the restricted list by Tampa Bay, resulting in the suspension of his pay.
While awaiting trial on conditional release, Franco faced another arrest in November for an altercation involving a woman’s attention. He was charged with illegally carrying a firearm registered to his uncle, a case that remains pending in court.
Following the ruling, Major League Baseball issued a statement acknowledging the verdict in Franco’s trial and stating that they would conclude their investigation at the appropriate time, in line with their commitment to addressing issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
