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Wander Franco, the suspended court-tammer of Tampa Bay Rays accused in a case of sexual abuse, was found guilty on Thursday but was sentenced to two years suspended.
Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having had a four -month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time and of transferring thousands of dollars to his mother to consent to the illegal relationship.
Franco, now 24, has also faced accusations of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and the trafficking of human beings, but was found not guilty of them.
Justice Jakayra Veras García said Franco had made a bad decision when she was addressed during the decision.
“Look at us, wander,” she said. “Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people very close to your age, you have to wait for your time. ”
The prosecutors had asked for a sentence of five years in prison against Franco and a 10 -year sentence against the girl of the girl, who was found guilty and will serve the full mandate.
“Apparently, it was she who thought that she would manage the bat in the big leagues,” said Veras about the mother and her request that Franco pays for the education of her daughter and other expenses.
Franco’s lawyer Irina Ventura said that she would appeal to the judge’s decision: “Obviously, justice has not been done.”
Meanwhile, prosecutor Luis Martínez said he was satisfied with the decisions but did not say if the government would appeal.
Before the three judges made their decision unanimous, Veras orally examined the abundant number of evidence that the prosecutors presented during the trial, including certain testimonies of 31 witnesses.
“This is a somewhat complex process,” said Veras.
More than an hour after its presentation, Veras said: “The court understood that this minor was manipulated.”
While the judge continued his exam, Franco looked without expression, sometimes leaning forward.
Franco, who was once the team’s star stop, had signed a $ 182 million contract over 11 years until 2032 in November 2021, but saw his career suddenly arrested in August 2023 after the authorities of the Dominican Republic announced that they were investigating an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 years old at the time.
In January 2024, the authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut the salary he had received on administrative leave.
He was placed on this list because he could not go to the team and need a new American visa to do so.
While Franco was waiting for the parole trial, he was again arrested in November of last year following what the Dominican authorities called an altercation on the attention of a woman. He was accused of illegally carrying a semi-automatic glock 19 This police said they were registered with his uncle.
This case is still pending before the court.
After the decision, Major League Baseball published a brief statement noting that it had collectively negotiated a joint policy of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse of children “which reflects our commitment to these questions”.
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” said MLB.
