MLB baseball player Wander Franco was called to court in early January in his home country, Dominican Republic, with allegations of sexual relations with a minor and money laundering.
Franco is a professional baseball player in the United States. He signed onto the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 with an 11 year contract for 182 million dollars. The Rays organization supported the league and the commissioner and declined any further comment.
"We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation," the Rays said in a statement in August. "Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time."
Franco was put on the paid administrative leave in August after the sexual relations allegations first surfaced. Being on the list, he was unable to finish the 2023 baseball season.
Franco was banned from re-entering the U.S, and if this ban is not lifted before MLB’s Opening Day, Franco will be placed on the unpaid restricted list putting an end to his 2024 season before it even starts. Javad Khazaeli, a former prosecutor for U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated that his visa may be revoked, which would be the reason for the denial of Franco’s return to the United States.
“Barring a full exoneration in this case, where it comes out that this was all made up, I don’t see him very likely coming back anytime soon, if ever,” Khazaeli said, in an interview by The Athletic. “The likelihood he would come into the U.S., even if he had a valid visa that wasn’t revoked, is minimal.”
After further investigation, the claims became more detailed. Franco had sexual relations with a 14 year old girl, and paid her mother with a small car and payments to have her stay quiet.
“The daughter should definitely press charges,” Newtown High School sophomore Olivia Bossio-Dotolo said. “If she can, with age and all.”
Franco was arrested for failing to show up for a meeting with his prosecutor, Olga Diná Llaverías. Llaverías called for the meeting on December 28th, and after Franco didn’t show up for the allotted 48 hours, officers were sent to his home. No official legal charges have been placed against him in the United States at this time for the sexual allegations and money laundering.
Franco is due back in court on February 8th where the girl will share her testimony. After the decision by the judge, Franco’s charges will be decided. The Code for the Protection of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, Law 136-03 in the Dominican Republic, establishes sexual abuse as any relationship between a minor and a person five years older. If these charges are filed against Franco, he could be in jail for 15-20 years and get a fine as well. This would end his baseball career for life.
“I definitely think that he should not have the opportunity to play on a baseball team in 2024 because he is not being responsible, he’s not going to court, he’s not living up to what he did. He should not get the opportunity because that’s just being rewarded for bad behavior and he might just keep doing it,”NHS sophomore Ella Viau said.
Currently, Franco is free to stay in the Dominican Republic with the only conditions being that he has to appear in court in February. Even if the charges are finalized and they are dropped, it is highly unlikely that Franco will return for the 2024 season.
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