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MLB star Wander Franco smiles as he exits Dominican courtroom in sexual abuse trial after 14-year-old alleged victim's attorney pushed for DISMISSAL
Embattled Major League star Wander Franco was seen smiling on his way out of a Dominican courtroom on Wednesday after a preliminary hearing in his trial for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor was postponed until September 26.
What’s more, an attorney representing the alleged victim has motioned for a dismissal in the case, citing a lack of evidence.
The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, who remains on leave from Major League Baseball, stands accused of sexually and psychologically abusing of a 14-year-old girl. He has been charged with the sexual abuse of a minor, exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking in the year-old case.
Franco is also accused of giving thousands of dollars to the girl’s mother to consent to the abuse, according to prosecutors in the Dominican.
The former All-Star’s preliminary hearing was moved to September 26 because Franco’s defense team wasn't previously informed about audiovisual evidence the prosecution was going to present.
Franco (smiling) leaves court with his lawyer Teodosio Jaquez (right) in Puerto Plata
Wander Franco stands accused of sexually and psychologically abusing of a 14-year-old girl
Dinora Pimentel, the lawyer representing the minor’s father, William Gonzales, told reporters that he will request that charges against Franco be dismissed due lack of evidence.
Franco was seen walking with one of his attorneys and didn’t stop to take questions from a bevy of reporters who surrounded his SUV outside the court.
He was initially suspended by the Rays last season before being placed on administrative leave through June 1 - per an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, according to ESPN. Following the charges, MLB moved Franco from administrative leave to the restricted list, although ESPN's Jeff Passan cautioned that this is 'not a disciplinary action.'
Franco is still being paid his $2million salary, despite not appearing in an MLB game since allegations first surfaced in the summer of 2023. He remains under contract through 2032 and is reportedly owed $174m.
Allegations of money laundering and sexual exploitation, meanwhile, were dismissed earlier this year after Franco was released from jail. He was detained for a week after failing to respond to a summons by prosecutors.
In April, a judge in the Dominican Republic denied a request by Franco to end his monthly check-ins with the authorities - and to return his bail of around $35,000.
According to prosecutors, and testimonies from the girl and other members of her family, Franco paid the 14-year-old 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.
He was also accused by prosecutors of 'taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl's mother', as reported by the Associated Press.
Franco started a relationship with the girl when she was 14, according to prosecutors
The Code for the Protection of the Right of Children and Adolescents, Law 136-03 in the Dominican Republic, considers sexual abuse as any relationship between a minor and a person five years older.
Franco started engaging in a relationship with the girl when she was 14 and he was 21, according to prosecutors.
Franco was included in his first All-Star Team last season and is regarded as one of the most exciting young players in Major League Baseball.
He is married to childhood sweetheart Rachelly Paulino, as first revealed by DailyMail.com last summer.
The pair have a five-bedroom home in Tampa - bought for $1.55m in May 2023 - and two children together, born in 2018 and 2022.
The Rays have struggled in his absence in 2024 are just 59-60 for the season.
However, Tampa has another major prospect at shortstop in Junior Caminero, who was recalled to the Majors this week.
This 21-year-old shortstop is hitting .274 with 16 home runs for Triple-A Durham this season.