Tampa Bay Rays’ player, Wander Franco, has been found legally responsible for the sexual and psychological mistreatment of a minor, according to a judgment handed down by a Dominican judge on Monday. Despite this ruling, Franco will not be serving any jail time as the judge granted him a judicial pardon due to the circumstances where he was a victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother. The mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking her daughter for sexual purposes.
Judge Jose Antonio Nunez explained that while Franco has been declared criminally responsible, he will not face punishment. The judge justified this decision as a “logical and legal reasoning.” Following the judgment, Franco expressed gratitude and relief, embracing his mother and other family members present in the courtroom.
Franco was arrested in January 2024 for allegedly engaging in a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and providing money to her mother to approve of the illicit relationship. After the court’s decision, Franco, accompanied by his lawyer Teodosio Jaquez, briefly spoke to reporters, expressing his calmness and asking for continued support from his fans.
Major League Baseball released a statement acknowledging the verdict and mentioned that they would conclude their investigation at the appropriate time. Franco’s lawyer, Jaquez, stated that the physical sentence is not yet available but confirmed that Franco was pardoned from punishment as he was deemed a victim by the court.
The final sentencing is scheduled for June 16, where more details will be revealed. Franco, who signed a lucrative contract with the Rays in 2021, had his career disrupted when he was investigated in 2023 for his alleged involvement with a minor. Following his arrest, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, resulting in a halt to his pay while on leave.
