A judge in the Dominican Republic has found Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco criminally responsible for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, but spared him from punishment under a legal provision that allows judges to forgo sentencing in certain cases. The ruling, delivered Monday in Puerto Plata, concluded a trial that had drawn widespread attention to the treatment of minors in the Caribbean nation.
Court Decision and Legal Context
Judge Yacquelin Padilla determined that Franco, 25, was guilty of the charges but applied Article 339 of the Dominican Criminal Code, which permits judges to exempt a defendant from punishment if the crime carries a maximum sentence of less than five years and the defendant has no prior criminal record. The judge noted Franco's clean record and the fact that he had already been under judicial supervision for nearly two years. The prosecution had sought a five-year prison sentence.
Reactions to the Verdict
The victim's lawyer, Juan Carlos Báez, expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that it sends a troubling message about the protection of minors in Dominican society. "This ruling essentially says that abusing a child can have no consequences," Báez said outside the courthouse. Franco's defense attorney, Teodosio Jáquez, praised the judge's decision as fair and based on the law.
Franco, who has been on administrative leave from Major League Baseball since August 2023, did not comment as he left the courthouse. The MLB is conducting its own investigation under its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy and could still impose a suspension regardless of the Dominican court's decision.
Background of the Case
The charges stem from a relationship Franco began with the minor in 2022, when she was 14, after meeting her on a beach near his hometown. The prosecution presented evidence including text messages and testimony from the victim, who is now 18 and testified via video link. Franco maintained that the relationship was consensual and that he believed she was older. However, Dominican law sets the age of consent at 18.
The case has sparked debate in the Dominican Republic about the enforcement of laws protecting minors and the influence of wealth and celebrity in the justice system. Franco, one of the country's most famous athletes, signed a 10-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021.
Future Implications
Legal experts say the ruling could be appealed by the prosecution. Meanwhile, the MLB investigation continues, and the players' union has said it will monitor the process. Franco's status with the Rays remains uncertain; the team has not commented on the verdict. The case has also drawn attention from international human rights organizations, which have called for stronger protections for minors in the Dominican Republic.
