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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
MLB star Wander Franco found guilty in minor sex abuse case: How much prison time is Rays shortstop seeing?
Major League Baseball shortstop Wander Franco has been guilty of sexually abusing a minor in his home country of the Dominican Republic. Dominican professional baseball player Wander Franco attends his trial for sexually abusing a minor, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic June 26, 2025. REUTERS/Erika Santelices(REUTERS) A Puerto Plata court passed a unanimous sentence against convicting a 24-year-old on the charge of having an illegal relationship with a 14-year-old girl. ALSO READ| Fan banned by MLB after heckling Dbacks' Marte to tears with barb about late mother, AP source says Will the MLB star face any prison time? Despite prosecutors pushing for a five-year prison sentence, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop was handed a two-year suspended sentence instead. Three judges of the Puerto Plata Collegiate Court made the ruling, so Franco will not spend time in prison unless and until he breaks certain court-ordered conditions. 'Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don't like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time,' Judge Jakayra Veras García told Franco, according to the Associated Press. Charges against Wander Franco explained Franco had faced multiple charges, including sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor as well as human trafficking. However, the judges ruled he was not guilty of those more severe allegations. Still, the court found enough evidence to convict him of sexually abusing the underage girl, with whom he reportedly had a months-long relationship when he was 21 years old. Prosecutors alleged that Franco also paid off the victim's mother to obtain her consent for the relationship. The mother was convicted as well, on charges of sexually trafficking her daughter, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Authorities have ordered the seizure of all assets she received in connection with Franco's actions, per ESPN's Juan Arturo Recio. ALSO READ| Rays beat Red Sox 10-8 in 11 innings, spoil top prospect Roman Anthony's MLB debut 'The court has understood that this minor was manipulated,' Judge Veras said, after reviewing the prosecution's evidence. Speaking earlier this week before the verdict was announced, Franco maintained his innocence, telling the judges, 'We expect justice.' Franco's lawyer, Irina Ventura, called the outcome unfair and said she plans to appeal the ruling. 'Justice was not done,' she said. The verdict comes nearly two years after the first allegations against Franco appeared on social media in August 2023. He's been on MLB's restricted list since July 2024 and has not played professional baseball since the charges surfaced. 'Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,' Major League Baseball said in a statement. ALSO READ| MLB All-Star Game voting: How does it work and when will final team be announced? 'We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Baseball prodigy Wander Franco found guilty of sexually abusing minor in Dominican Republic court
Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been found guilty of sexually abusing a minor by a Dominican court, marking a significant fall from grace for the 24-year-old MLB star once heralded as one of baseball's brightest young talents. 2-year suspended prison sentence Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence on Thursday(June 26). Under the terms set by Judge Jakayra Veras García, he will avoid incarceration provided he does not violate specific conditions, chiefly that he must 'not approach minors with sexual intentions.' If he breaches those terms, the sentence will be enforced. A pedophile? The case stems from accusations dating back to 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Franco, then 21, engaged in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, an act that constitutes statutory rape under Dominican law, where the age of consent is 18. The girl's mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was also found guilty, sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking her daughter in exchange for financial gain. Franco was also initially charged with human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, but was acquitted on those counts. The case involved over 30 witnesses and months of legal proceedings. Authorities said that Franco had made financial transfers totaling tens of thousands of dollars and gifted a car to the girl's family. Live Events Major League Baseball placed Franco on administrative leave in August 2023 after the allegations surfaced, following protocol under its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. He was later moved to the restricted list in July 2024, at which point he ceased receiving MLB salary or accruing service time. MLB released a statement Thursday: 'We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.' US work visa in danger? Franco signed a record-setting 11-year, $182 million contract with Tampa Bay in 2021. Once seen as the future face of the franchise, his baseball career is now in question. Experts note that a criminal conviction involving 'moral turpitude' could bar him from receiving a US work visa, potentially ending his MLB eligibility. Legal representatives for Franco have indicated they will appeal the conviction, asserting his innocence.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco gets suspended sentence in Dominican Republic after child sex abuse conviction
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco gets suspended sentence in Dominican Republic after child sex abuse conviction (Image via Getty) Wander Franco, the former shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, has found guilty of sexual abuse against a minor in a Dominican Republic court. A court in the Dominican Republic issued a two-year suspended sentence in Puerto Plata on June 26, 2025, leaving readers to assess what this judgment means for Franco's future in Major League Baseball. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco found guilty under child sex abuse law On June 26, 2025, a panel of judges in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, found Wander Franco guilty of sexual abuse against a 14-year-old girl. Franco, now 24, was 21 at the time of the crime. The court also fined him the equivalent of ten minimum monthly wages. The victim's mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual trafficking . The crime involved payments and travel arrangements made by Franco, which prosecutors said amounted to exploitation. Judge Jakayra Veras García called the victim 'manipulated' during her ruling. Franco has been placed on a two-year suspended sentence, meaning he will avoid jail time if he follows strict conditions. One key restriction is that he must not approach or contact minors for sexual purposes. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco's MLB future in serious doubt Wander Franco has not played in the major leagues since August 2023, when the Tampa Bay Rays placed him on administrative leave after the allegations surfaced . He is currently on the MLB restricted list, meaning he receives no pay or service time while under legal restriction . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join the Movement for Change Scmp Read Now Undo In November 2024, Dominican authorities also charged Franco with illegal firearm possession during a separate incident in San Juan de la Maguana . MLB is continuing its internal investigation under its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy . This legal conviction and remaining charges could bar Franco from entering the U.S., preventing him from obtaining a work visa . Also Read: Ex-MLB Star Dan Serafini Murder Trial Reveals Shocking Jail Letters And Secret Drives As Wife Erin Spohr Breaks Silence In Court Back in 2021, the Rays secured Wander Franco with an 11-year, $182 million contract, banking on his All-Star potential . But now, with the conviction and suspended jail sentence, his ability to resume his MLB career looks bleak. Without a visa and with MLB discipline still pending, Franco's path back to pro baseball is uncertain. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rays' Wander Franco found guilty of sexually abusing 14-year-old girl
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop Wander Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence Thursday when he was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic, which could end his baseball career. Franco, 24, who signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in 2021, will remain on Major League Baseball's restricted list for failure to work for the Rays. If he's unable to secure a visa to work in the United States because of the guilty verdict, he won't be able to play again in MLB. Even if Franco is able to obtain a visa in the future, the Rays could seek to have the remaining $133 million remaining on his contract voided based on violating moral turpitude. MLB's investigation remains open but if Franco never gets a visa, the league may consider it a moot point to even issue a punishment. "Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues," MLB said in a statement. 'We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time." The minor informed the court that she had a sexual relationship with Franco when he was 21 years old. The mother of the victim, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted of sexually trafficking her daughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Franco was placed on MLB's restricted list in July 2024, 11 months after social media posts alleged that Franco had been in an inappropriate relationship with the minor since December 2022. Franco denied the allegations and he was on paid administrative leave until being put on the restricted list. While Franco remains a free man, he was informed that if he violates any conditions of the court, he must serve his full two-year sentence. He is prohibited from approaching minors with sexual intentions. Franco also faces charges in the Dominican Republic for illegal possession of a handgun after an altercation in a parking lot November, 2024, in San Juan de la Maguana. Wander Franco contract Wander Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract before the 2022 season at the age of 20, having played just 70 MLB games at that point. Wander Franco stats
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Dodgers pitcher Urias suspended over domestic violence case
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias will be suspended from baseball until July after violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy, the league said on Friday. The 28-year-old Mexican left-hander has not played professionally since being placed on administrative leave in September 2023 following his second arrest on domestic violence allegations. Urias, whose eight seasons at the Dodgers included throwing the final out in the team's 2020 World Series victory, was released by the team at the end of the 2023 season. He has been a free agent since being cut from the Dodgers, but has not been picked up by any team. The league said Friday Urias's suspension would run through July 17, 2025. After that date he will be free to sign for a club. "The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball has completed its investigation into allegations that free agent pitcher Julio Urías violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement on Friday. "Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Urías violated our Policy and that discipline is appropriate." rcw/dj
