Wander Franco is to stand trial in a minor abuse case

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Shortstop Tampa Bay Rays Hike Franco has been ordered to stand trial in the Dominican Republic on charges of sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor.

Franco, 23, is also charged with human trafficking after it was alleged he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Previous charges of money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation had previously been dismissed.

The Athletics reports that the judge in Franco’s case, Pascual Abreu Valenzuela, also ordered the victim’s mother, Martha Chevalier, to stand trial.

Chevalier was charged in July with commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking and money laundering.

Franco faces a prison sentence of up to twenty years. He also faces discipline from Major League Baseball under the league’s policies on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Trial dates for both Franco and Chevalier have yet to be set.

Valenzuela’s decision was handed down Thursday during the trial’s second and final preliminary hearing. The secretary of the court was able to confirm the decision, together with the judge’s acceptance of the indictment and the evidence presented at the hearing, although these are not yet ready for viewing. No trial date has been set.

Puerto Plata’s chief prosecutor, Kelmi Duncan, said the judge fully accepted the prosecutor’s charges.

The victim’s father withdrew the complaint he filed against Wander Franco after reportedly reaching an agreement with Franco’s legal representatives.

According to Dominican news publication Diario Libre, an attorney for the victim’s father stated that he believed the evidence against Franco was “baseless” and that his daughter told him she did not have a sexual relationship with him.

Wander Franco signed a $3.8 million contract with Tampa Bay when he was just 16 years old. He was named an All-Star at age 22, but has been on administrative leave since August 12, 2023.

While on Major League Baseball’s restricted list, Franco continued to collect payments on his $182 million contract with Tampa Bay until he was officially charged with a crime. He has earned almost $13 million in his MLB career so far. Franco must pay $8 million in 2025, $15 million in 2026, $22 million in 2027 and $25 million per year from 2028 to 2032.