- Wander Franco is accused of an inappropriate relationship with a minor
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Wander Franco’s bank accounts have reportedly been seized in the Dominican Republic as the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop is accused of sexually and psychologically abusing a 14-year-old girl.
If reported by Televisión PúblicaFranco is accused by a source of breaching a contract with his lawyers and refusing to pay their fees for work that has already been completed.
Franco is accused of having a relationship with the teen and paying her mother thousands of dollars for her consent.
Originally charged with commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering — charges that could carry 30 years, 10 years and 20 years in prison, respectively — Franco is now charged in lieu of sexual and psychological abuse, according to a judge’s resolution that The Associated Press obtained on Tuesday.
Franco has not been formally charged, but if found guilty of the new charges, he could face a prison sentence of two to five years.
Wander Franco’s bank accounts have reportedly been seized in the Dominican Republic
Franco was unable to report to spring training with the Rays on Sunday – the deadline leading up to the team’s first official full practice.
According to the Tampa Bay Timesthe rest of the Rays’ position players reported for practice on Sunday ahead of Monday’s practice.
MLB’s “mandatory report date” is February 24, giving the Rays another week before a decision must be made on Franco’s status before the start of the season.
The All-Star shortstop remains in the Dominican Republic and could face a battle to return to the U.S. while the investigation is ongoing.
MLB players are paid starting at the start of the regular season and if Franco is still unavailable by then, he could be placed on administrative leave or the restricted list again.
The All-Star shortstop had to appear in court again this month in his native Dominican Republic
He will be paid $2 million this season as part of his 11-year, $182 million contract with Tampa Bay.
According to prosecutors and testimony from the girl and other members of her family, Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts in exchange for the mother’s consent to engage in a sexual relationship with her daughter.
The Code for the Protection of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, Law 136-03 in the Dominican Republic, considers sexual abuse to be any relationship between a minor and a person five years older. Franco started a relationship with the girl when she was 14 and he was 21.
Franco had to appear in court again on February 8, when the girl was to be questioned by the judge.