1 week ago
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was declared criminally responsible for nan intersexual and psychological maltreatment of a minor, but he will not service a sentence, a Dominican judge ruled connected Monday.
In his decision, Judge José Antonio Núñez considered that Franco had been nan unfortunate of extortion and blackmail by nan minor’s mother, who was sentenced to 10 years successful situation for sexually trafficking her daughter.
Franco was arrested successful January 2024 aft he was accused of having a four-month narration pinch a woman who was 14 astatine nan clip and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to nan forbidden relationship.
After nan ruling, Franco near nan courthouse alongside his lawyer, Teodosio Jaquez, and concisely answered reporters’ questions, saying, “I consciousness calm,” and asking his fans to “continue supporting maine and trusting successful me.”
The subordinate besides said that he personally had not contacted nan Rays, but that his lawyers had.
“We don’t person nan beingness condemnation successful our hands, but he was exempted from reward because nan president of nan tribunal established that he was besides a unfortunate and because he is exempted from reward done judicial pardon,” said Jáquez.
The afloat sentencing will beryllium connected 16 June.
“When we person nan afloat condemnation successful hand, we will springiness you much details,” Jáquez said. “He was exempted from reward and we deliberation that’s fine, but we request to person nan condemnation successful hand.
In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182m statement pinch nan Rays, but his profession was upended erstwhile authorities successful nan Dominican Republic announced successful August 2023 that they were investigating him for an alleged narration pinch a minor. Franco was 22 astatine nan time.
Six months aft his arrest, Tampa Bay placed him connected nan restricted list, which trim disconnected nan salary he had been receiving while connected administrative leave.
