MLB star Wander Franco discovered responsible in minor intercourse abuse case: How a lot jail time is Rays shortstop seeing?

A Puerto Plata courtroom handed a unanimous sentence in opposition to convicting a 24-year-old on the cost of getting an unlawful relationship with a 14-year-old lady.

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Will the MLB star face any jail time?

Despite prosecutors pushing for a five-year jail sentence, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop was handed a two-year suspended sentence as a substitute.

Three judges of the Puerto Plata Collegiate Court made the ruling, so Franco is not going to spend time in jail until and till he breaks sure court-ordered situations.

“Do not strategy minors for sexual functions. If you don’t like folks very near your age, it’s a must to wait your time,” Judge Jakayra Veras García instructed Franco, in keeping with the Associated Press.

Charges in opposition to Wander Franco defined

Franco had confronted a number of fees, together with sexual and industrial exploitation of a minor in addition to human trafficking. However, the judges dominated he was not responsible of these extra extreme allegations. Still, the courtroom discovered sufficient proof to convict him of sexually abusing the underage lady, with whom he reportedly had a months-long relationship when he was 21 years outdated.

Prosecutors alleged that Franco additionally paid off the sufferer’s mom to acquire her consent for the connection. The mom was convicted as properly, on fees of sexually trafficking her daughter, and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Authorities have ordered the seizure of all belongings she obtained in reference to Franco’s actions, per ESPN’s Juan Arturo Recio.

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“The courtroom has understood that this minor was manipulated,” Judge Veras mentioned, after reviewing the prosecution’s proof.

Speaking earlier this week earlier than the decision was introduced, Franco maintained his innocence, telling the judges, “We count on justice.”

Franco’s lawyer, Irina Ventura, referred to as the end result unfair and mentioned she plans to enchantment the ruling. “Justice was not performed,” she mentioned.

The verdict comes practically two years after the primary allegations in opposition to Franco appeared on social media in August 2023. He’s been on MLB’s restricted checklist since July 2024 and has not performed skilled baseball for the reason that fees surfaced.

“Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that displays our dedication to those points,” Major League Baseball mentioned in an announcement.

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“We are conscious of as we speak’s verdict within the Wander Franco trial and can conclude our investigation on the acceptable time.”