Wander Franco trial: Rays star faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic

By MART N ADAMES Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went to trial Monday June in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse episode involving a -year-old girl Now Franco was having an All-Star season in before Dominican government began reviewing statements 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 but was postponed until June Here s what to know about the trial What are the charges against Wander Franco Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking After an scrutiny that lasted over a year judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata Dominican Republic ruled in September of that the evidence presented by prosecutors was worthy of the development moving to trial Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge in July of and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco through his mother Yudelka Aybar transferred million pesos or to the mother of the minor on Jan to consent to the abuse The mother of the minor has been charged with money laundering and was under house arrest Prosecutors say that the minor s mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco During raids on the house of the minor s mother prosecutors say they located and that they allege was delivered by Franco I heard all they declared but I desired to say that justice must be done Franco notified the judges on the first day He has otherwise refused to speak to the media Why was Franco s trial postponed Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial in December at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key observers in the incident Franco s lawyers urged the court to reconsider the postponement arguing Franco needed to description to spring training in mid-February The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment What could be his sentence if uncovered guilty If convicted Franco could face up to years in prison Is Franco being held in jail Franco has been free on supervised release although he had been required to make monthly control visits to the judge He was also arrested and granted another supervised release in November for illegally carrying a gun in his van The arrest followed an argument in an apartment complex parking lot Another man and a woman also were detained in the confrontation Two firearms were seized police announced Dominican judge Viamerca Ruiz mentioned Franco requirements to document to court once a month while he is being investigated for carrying the firearm that was registered under his uncle s name One of Franco s lawyers announced because the gun has a license there s nothing illegal about it A conviction for illegally possessing a firearm could prompt a three- to five-year prison sentence Is Franco still being paid No but he was for nearly a year after Dominican officers opened their probe Related Articles Farm Overview Red Sox unlock Password as Garcia breaks out at Triple-A David Ortiz says Red Sox can t mess up Rafael Devers stellar season Richard Fitts allows runs homers in first Red Sox lose - to Angels Red Sox manager says plan to play rookie at B being tabled for now Red Sox lineups Roster stronger at first base after latest move Franco who signed a million -year contract with the Rays in was briefly placed on the restricted list and then administrative leave in August when Dominican functionaries opened their examination Because administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport s joint domestic violence sexual assault and child abuse guidelines Franco was paid during that time Technically there is no leave during the offseason and Franco was again placed on administrative leave at the start of the season until prosecutors filed the current charges on July At that time MLB placed Franco who had a million salary in on its restricted list cutting off the pay he had been receiving under administrative leave He had been receiving of his salary on administrative leave a person familiar with his situation notified the AP speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail had not been disclosed publicly When he was placed on the restricted list his pay was adjusted to or salary for days of the -day season MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican trial is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this account