Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has again been found criminally responsible of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic but Franco was also granted a judicial pardon Monday as the judge ruled he was both a defendant and a victim in the case.
Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse against a minor according to multiple media reports, including Dominican journalist Juan Arturo Recio and the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin.
Franco was determined to be the victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother, according to The Associated Press. That means Franco will not serve any prison time and is “exempted from punishment.”
Franco was initially found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor last summer. He was 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.
He received a two-year suspended prison sentence for the illegal relationship, which allowed him to remain free as long as he met certain conditions. Prosecutors had been seeking a five-year sentence. Franco also dealt with other legal issues since returning to the Dominican Republic, including accusations from other girls and being sent to a mental health facility at his family’s urging in September.
The minor’s mother was also initially convicted on sex trafficking charges, and was hit with a 10-year prison sentence. But both Franco and the minor’s mother were granted new trials in December. The minor’s mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering on Monday, which matches the sentence she received in the first trial.
MLB’s response to court ruling
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Rays in 2022, which set a franchise record at the time. He was positioned as the cornerstone of the franchise, and was quickly becoming one of the younger stars of Major League Baseball. The sexual abuse of a minor allegations came out against him the following year, and he was placed on administrative leave and then the restricted list.
Franco’s MLB career remains on hold indefinitely. A sex crimes conviction against a minor is a significant obstacle for Franco in securing a work visa to enter the United States again. The judicial pardon that Franco received Monday applies to the punishment, not the conviction.
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” Major League Baseball said in a statement, via the Tampa Bay Times.
If Franco is unable to get a visa and report to the team, the Rays would not be obligated to pay the remaining $160 million on his deal. Franco could face discipline from the league once its investigation wraps up.
Franco and the minor’s mother are due in court next on June 16 for the full judgement reading.
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