Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s sexual assault trial has been postponed until September 26

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The second phase of Wander Franco’s trial for sexual abuse of a minor…

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The second phase of Wander Franco’s trial on charges of sexually abusing a minor has been postponed until Sept. 26.

The decision by the court in the northern Dominican Republic province of Puerto Plata came after the Tampa Bay shortstop’s defense team was not notified of audiovisual evidence that would be shown during a hearing on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old has been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors filed charges in January, six months after a judge ordered him to be investigated.

Dominican law divides the judicial procedure into a preparatory phase, a preliminary ruling and a final ruling.

Franco attended the hearing with a lawyer and family members. He did not speak to reporters.

Documents presented to a judge by prosecutors in July and seen by the Associated Press show that Franco, through his mother, Yudelka Aybar, transferred one million pesos, or $17,000, to the minor’s mother on January 5, 2023.

Franco was conditionally released on January 5, four days after his arrest. The mother of the minor girl is under house arrest.

Franco is accused of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Franco, who turned 23 on March 1, was in the midst of his third major league season when his career was cut short in August 2023. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021.

Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list last month, which resulted in the salary he received while on administrative leave being withdrawn.

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