Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco convicted of sexually abusing a child and gets a suspended sentence

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — Suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was convicted of sexually abusing a child and handed a two-year suspended sentence Thursday.

Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

Franco, now 24, was found not guilty of charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking.

Judge Jakayra Veras García said Franco made a bad decision as she addressed him during the ruling.

''Look at us, Wander,'' she said. ''Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don't like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time."

Prosecutors had requested a five-year prison sentence against Franco and a 10-year sentence against the girl's mother, who was found guilty and will serve the full term.

''Apparently she was the one who thought she was handling the bat in the big leagues,'' Veras said of the mother and her request that Franco pay for her daughter's schooling and other expenses.

Franco's attorney, Irina Ventura, said she would appeal the judge's ruling: ''Evidently, justice was not done."

Meanwhile, prosecutor Luis Martínez said he was pleased with the rulings but did not say whether the government would appeal.

Before the three judges issued their unanimous ruling, Veras reviewed the extensive evidence prosecutors presented during trial, including testimony from 31 witnesses.

''This is a somewhat complex process,'' Veras said.

More than an hour into her presentation, Veras said: ''The court has understood that this minor was manipulated.''

As the judge continued her review, Franco looked ahead expressionless, leaning forward at times.

Franco, who was once the team's star shortstop, had signed a $182 million, 11-year contract through 2032 in November 2021 but saw his career abruptly halted in August 2023 after authorities in the Dominican Republic announced they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time.

In January 2024, authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.

He was placed on that list because he has not been able to report to the team and would need a new U.S. visa to do so.

While Franco awaited trial on conditional release, he was arrested again in November last year following what Dominican authorities called an altercation over a woman's attention. He was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 that police said was registered to his uncle.

That case is still pending in court.

After the ruling, Major League Baseball issued a brief statement noting it had collectively bargained a joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy ''that reflects our commitment to these issues.''

''We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,'' MLB said.

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Associated Press writers Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Ron Blum in New York contributed to this report.