Wander Franco found guilty of sexually abusing 14-year-old girl

Rays shortstop Wander Franco on Thursday was found guilty on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor, a verdict that may end his major league career.

He was sentenced to two years of suspended prison time. The relationship started in December 2022 in the Dominican Republic, when he was 21 and the girl was 14.

The suspended sentence is similar to probation. If Franco, 24, does not meet certain conditions — most importantly, not approach minors with sexual intentions — he will have to serve the full two-year sentence.

Franco had his head down when the verdict was read, rubbing his eyes repeatedly.

The decision, unanimous among a three-judge panel, can be appealed to two higher courts.

If upheld, it could end Franco’s once-highly promising career in the major leagues. With the conviction, he is unlikely to be granted a necessary visa to work in the United States, given the crime for which he was convicted is considered one of moral turpitude.

An additional obstacle could be discipline by Major League Baseball, which had been awaiting resolution of the legal process before completing its own investigation.

If Franco is unable to secure a visa and report to play, he would lose out on the bulk of the $182 million, 11-year contract he signed with the Rays in November 2021.

The Rays, who have not had to pay him since he was placed on MLB’s restricted list in July 2024, still owe him $164 million after this season. They would be freed of the financial obligation and have the opportunity to repurpose the money, as he would remain on the restricted list.

The Rays also could seek to have the contract voided based on the moral turpitude issue.

“We respect the legal process in the Dominican Republic and believe it is important to allow it to run its course,” the Rays said in a statement. “We will continue to fully cooperate with Major League Baseball as it monitors the situation. Out of respect for everyone involved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time.”

League officials also issued a statement:

“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. We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.”

Franco last played for the Rays in August 2023, when word of the relationship first surfaced on social media — a month after he made his first All-Star appearance.

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News of Thursday’s verdict hit social media after most Rays had left the Kauffman Stadium clubhouse following a 4-0 win over the Royals on Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri.

Player rep Pete Fairbanks, one of the veterans who played with Franco, said there hadn’t been much talk among players about Franco during his absence.

“I haven’t followed the case super closely, but it is what it is, and that’s a clear-cut decision by those judges,” he said.

“I’m not sure how it affects us on a day-to-day basis at this point. ... We’re focused on our day-to-day process of trying to win baseball games and get back to the postseason.”

Reached by phone as the team headed to the airport for a flight to Baltimore, Rays manager Kevin Cash declined to comment.

Tampa-based immigration attorney J. Tony Lopez, who is not involved in the case, said the guilty verdict had “devastating legal consequences beyond the criminal sentence itself” for Franco.

That’s because under U.S. immigration law, he said, offenses involving minors — such as lewd or lascivious conduct or exploitation — generally are categorized as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude, rendering a non-citizen “permanently inadmissible to the United States.”

Added Lopez, “It is important to emphasize that immigration benefits, including non-immigrant visas, are discretionary. There is no legal right to a visa — even for an elite athlete with contractual obligations in the U.S. A criminal conviction of this nature would make approval exceedingly unlikely, if not impossible. In practical terms, it would likely foreclose any opportunity for Mr. Franco to return to the United States to play baseball."

The mother of the minor, who was also on trial, was convicted of sexually trafficking her daughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors proved she sought money from Franco and laundered it.

Prosecutors sought a five-year sentence for Franco.

Judge Jakayra Veras García indicated that the panel opted for the lesser punishment due to the complexity of the case, Franco’s age, his status as a first-time offender and that the girl’s mother was pressuring him, Dominican newspaper Listin Diario reported.

Also, Garcia said, “the damage that Wander Franco has suffered to his career as a result of the events.”

But García also told Franco he made a bad decision as she addressed him during the ruling, according to the Associated Press.

“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 your time.”

Per Dominican Republic law, Franco’s lawyers have to file an appeal within five days of written notification of the full sentence, which is not expected until late July. Thursday was just the initial reading. If appealed, the case would be reviewed by a five-judge panel.

One of Franco’s attorneys, Irina Ventura, told reporters at the Puerto Plata courtroom they would wait for the written version to decide whether to appeal.

But, she said, “Justice was not served. You saw the hearings, and you saw that the most controversial and fundamental points of Wander’s defense were not addressed in the decision.”

A key point in the trial, according to Listin Diario’s report, was that the minor confessed to having a four-month relationship with Franco, which ended due to “jealousy.”

Dominican prosecutors initially filed charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking against Franco in July 2024 after a lengthy investigation, with a potential jail term of up to 30 years. The evidence, which included direct testimony from the girl in a private session, was then reviewed by a judge, who ruled in September that it merited proceeding to a trial.

The trial was originally scheduled for December, then delayed until June.

During closing arguments Monday in a Puerto Plata courtroom, prosecutors indicated only that Franco was being tried for sexual abuse and asked the three-judge panel to sentence him to five years in prison, plus to pay a fine equal to 10 times the minimum wage in the Dominican Republic and to cover court costs.

Franco was allowed to address the court Monday but chose to speak only briefly, saying, “Let justice be done.”

Franco received part of his $2 million salary in 2024, but once the charges were filed in July, he was shifted to Major League Baseball’s restricted list and was not paid his $8 million salary for this season. His contract is guaranteed through 2032 (with $25 million salaries for the final five seasons) and a 2033 option.

If the conviction is upheld, the Rays would be free to spend that money for other purposes.

Franco was considered one of the best rising young players in the game at the time his legal troubles started, on track to reach star status with players such as Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson. In 265 major league games, he hit .282 with 30 home runs, 130 RBIs and a .795 OPS. He had an 11.3 WAR rating, per baseball-reference.com.

Asked about Franco likely losing what could have been a stellar career, Fairbanks said, “Yeah, the kid was very talented. That’s all I’ll say on that.”

Franco also faces charges in the Dominican of illegal possession of a firearm from an unrelated incident in November 2024, with potential jail terms ranging from six months to five years. A trial date for those charges has not yet been set.

Times staff writer Juan-Carlos Chavez contributed to this report.

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