Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, heart, is escorted by police to court docket in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Rays’ Wander Franco was positioned on administrative depart by June 1 below an settlement between Main League Baseball and the gamers’ affiliation whereas the investigation continues in an alleged relationship with a minor. The Rays open the season Thursday, March 28, 2024, in opposition to Toronto, forcing MLB and the union to decide on Franco’s roster standing. (AP Photograph/Ricardo Hernández, File)
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A choose denied a request by Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco to droop required month-to-month conferences with Dominican authorities investigating allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old woman, in line with a doc The Related Press obtained Friday.
Franco is accused of sexual and psychological abuse and stays below conditional launch because the investigation in opposition to the All-Star participant continues.
He has not been formally charged, however Dominican authorities are allowed to detain suspects who’re below investigation, with a choose later deciding whether or not there may be ample proof for fees to be filed.
Prosecutors have alleged that Franco paid the minor woman’s mom hundreds of {dollars} for her consent to the connection, which lasted 4 months. The woman’s mom is charged within the case and stays below home arrest. The AP shouldn’t be naming the girl in an effort to protect her daughter’s privateness.
Franco’s attorneys requested that the court docket return the $33,000 he needed to deposit to acquire conditional launch after being detained for a week in his native country in early January.
The choose additionally denied that request after prosecutors rejected it and requested that every one measures taken in opposition to Franco be upheld “since (his) presence should be assured at every step of the method.”
Franco’s attorneys have appealed each choices, which had been issued in March. A ruling is pending.
Franco was having an All-Star season earlier than being sidelined in August, when Dominican authorities started their investigation as did Main League Baseball, inserting Franco on the restricted checklist on Aug. 14 earlier than transferring him to administrative leave on Aug. 22. Each investigations are ongoing.
MLB is more likely to wait till the Dominican investigation is concluded earlier than deciding whether or not there can be any self-discipline.
Franco, who turned 23 on March 1, was within the midst of his third main league season when his profession was halted and was hitting .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 40 makes an attempt over 112 video games.
Franco signed a $182 million, 11-year contract in 2021. His wage final 12 months and this 12 months is $2 million per season.
