Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor.
The 24-year-old was handed a guilty verdict on Thursday (June 26) in the Dominican Republic for an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21, according to the Associated Press.
Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence along with several unspecified conditions that must be met.
The presiding judge reportedly warned Franco that a key condition of his parole is that he must stay away from children for sexual purposes.
Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, the mother of the victim in the case, has also been found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Before hearing testimony from 31 witnesses, three judges issued a unanimous ruling without reviewing the evidence prosecutors presented during the trial, calling the process "complex."
“This is a somewhat complex process,” said Judge Jakayra Veras García. He added: “The court has understood that this minor was manipulated.”
Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic in January 2024—six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, ending his paid administrative leave.
Last November, Franco, who was out on conditional release, was arrested again for an alleged altercation and charged with illegally carrying a Glock 19 registered to his uncle.
