The Dominican Republic government has taken the next step in their case against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, charging him with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor, according to ESPN’s Juan Arturo Recio.
#WanderFranco formalmente acusado por las autoriades dominicanas por los delitos de abuso sexual y explotación sexual en contra de una menor de edad.#WanderFranco formally charged by Dominican authorities for the crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor.
— Juan Arturo Recio (@JuanRecioM) July 10, 2024
According to Listin Diario, prosecutors officially filed charges against Franco Monday evening. The mother of the minor child was also charged with trafficking, sexual exploitation and money laundering. Recio Wednesday reported that prosecutirs have also filed an additional trafficking charge against Franco.
Franco was accused last August of having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl in the Dominican Republic. The 23-year-old was initially placed on the restricted list, then moved to the Administrative Leave list, where he has continued to be paid and receive service time despite not having played for the Rays since August 12, 2023.
The Rays have not commented on the matter since supporting the league’s decision to place Franco on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal process as well as Major League Baseball’s own investigation.
Franco is currently in the third year of a 11-year contract signed before the start of the 2022 season worth $182 million.