US EditionWander Franco trial: Rays star faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic
- The trial of Wander Franco, a shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, is set to begin on June 2, 2025, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where he faces allegations including sexual abuse of a minor and human trafficking.
- In August 2023, Dominican authorities launched an investigation after allegations surfaced that Franco had engaged in inappropriate conduct with a minor and compensated her mother for her agreement to the abuse.
- Prosecutors submitted evidence indicating that in January 2023, Franco, via his mother Yudelka Aybar, sent approximately 1 million pesos to the mother of the minor, who is now charged with money laundering and placed under house arrest.
- Franco, who agreed to an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Rays in 2021 and was performing at an All-Star level during the 2023 season, has been placed on administrative leave and the restricted list since August 2023, with MLB suspending his salary.
- If found guilty, Franco may be sentenced to as many as two decades behind bars, while MLB is expected to hold off on any disciplinary actions until the trial in the Dominican Republic has concluded.
105 Articles
105 Articles
Trial starts for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, accused of sex abuse of 14-year-old girl
The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco started Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Franco told judges he wants justice to be done. Franco has been charged in the northern province of Puerto Plata with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. Prosecutors introduced documents as pieces...
Franco faces human trafficking, sexual abuse charges in Dominican Republic
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went to trial Monday, June 2 in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Now 24, Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12 but was postponed until June. Here’s what…
By Jessica Hasbun, CNN en Español The Collegiate Court of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, began this Monday the trial against the player of the Major Leagues Wander Franco, accused of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor. The case has generated national and international attention since August 2023, when Dominican media revealed that Franco, player of the Rays of Tampa Bay, was investigated for allegedly maintaining a relationship wit…
By Jessica Hasbun, CNN en Español The Collegiate Court of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, began this Monday the trial against the player of the Major Leagues Wander Franco, accused of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor. The case has generated national and international attention since August 2023, when Dominican media revealed that Franco, player of the Rays of Tampa Bay, was investigated for allegedly maintaining a relationship wit…
Los Angeles Times
PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco began Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl.
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