Wander Franco sentenced to two years in prison for child abuse
Former Tampa Bay Rays player found guilty of child sexual abuse in the Dominican Republic
Wander Franco, former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a minor in the Dominican Republic. ESPN journalist Juan Arturo Recio reported that the Tribunal Colegiado of Puerto Plata sentenced him to two years of suspended imprisonment. Franco must comply with certain conditions, and if he fails to meet them, he will have to serve the full sentence in prison.
The shortstop had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21. Because of that, the main condition of his probation is that he must not approach minors for sexual purposes.
Dominican law, based on the Code for the Protection of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, punishes adults convicted of having sexual relations with minors with a prison term ranging from two to five years.
Franco’s future in Major League Baseball now appears to be over. He is currently on the restricted list, which is designated for players who are still under contract but inactive due to unusual circumstances. Additionally, he would need a visa to work in the U.S., and his criminal record makes it nearly impossible to obtain one.
Born in Baní, Franco played three seasons in Major League Baseball. During that time, the switch-hitter posted a .282 batting average, recording 292 hits in 1,037 at-bats. He also hit 30 home runs and tallied 130 RBIs.
Victim’s mother also sentenced to prison
The Puerto Plata court noted that the victim’s mother waited over five months to report her daughter’s disappearance. The complaint was filed in July 2023 for events that allegedly occurred in February 2023 and December 2022.
During the investigation, authorities found messages between Franco and Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte—the victim’s mother—where she said: “You can be with my daughter as long as you give me more money, as long as you cover our needs.”
As a result, the victim’s mother was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She will also forfeit all property obtained through money laundering related to the crime.
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