Authorities in the Dominican Republic are preparing to formally accuse Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco in connection with an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl that reportedly began in December 2022. According to a report in Dominican newspaper El Nuevo Diario, Franco is expected to face charges of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor.
The distressing situation came to public attention last summer when photographs of Franco and the girl circulated on social media. As a result, Franco was placed on administrative leave in August, only to be reinstated at the start of the 2024 baseball season. However, the Associated Press previously reported that prosecutors intended to accuse Franco of sexual and psychological abuse, as well as abduction.
In January, accusations of money laundering and sexual exploitation were dismissed after Franco was released from prison. This followed his failure to respond to a summons by prosecutors for questioning. Last month, ESPN reported that a judge in the Dominican Republic denied Franco’s lawyers’ request to end mandatory check-ins with the police and to return his bail of 2 million Dominican pesos (approximately $34,000). The judge stated that these measures were necessary to ensure Franco’s presence throughout the legal process.