A judge in the Dominican Republic granted Wander Franco conditional release on Friday.
The Rays star appeared in a Puerto Plata court on Friday afternoon on charges of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, was ordered to pay 2 million pesos (about $34,000) and is allowed to leave the Dominican Republic. was also allowed. However, they must return once a month to meet with authorities.
The 22-year-old Rays star is charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering, as is the mother of the girl Franco gave her a car and money in exchange for consent, according to court documents. That's what it means.
The girl's 35-year-old mother, who works at a local bank, was placed under house arrest, according to the Associated Press.
Judge Lumaldi Marcelino chose a conditional release.
Her other options were to temporarily arrest him or prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic.
As Mr. Franco entered the courthouse in Puerto Plata, his supporters held placards reading “Freedom to roam'' and “We are all Franco.''
“Everything is in God's hands,” he told reporters during a break in the hearing.
Franco was arrested on Monday for failing to meet with prosecutor Olga Dina Llaverias.
His lawyer has not commented on the matter, but said Franco is “doing well,” according to the Associated Press.
Officials in the Dominican Republic said they launched an investigation into Franco after receiving information in July that someone had seen a media post alluding to an affair with him.
In August, social media posts suggested he had a relationship with a minor.
Authorities accuse Franco of abducting the minor from his home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with the girl's mother.
They said Franco sent her mother $1,700 a month for seven months “to allow their relationship and to go anywhere she wanted with him,” according to documents quoting the girl. He blames me for buying the car.
The girl also reportedly said she requested that a local digital media site publish an article about her alleged relationship with the baseball player because she was “fed up” with her mother taking Franco's money and not sharing anything with her. ing. she with her.
Later, there were also allegations that he had relationships with other underage girls.
He appeared to deny the allegations in an Instagram Live post on August 13th.
“People are saying that I'm in public with little girls, that I'm running around with minors,” Franco said in Spanish. According to the Tampa Bay Times. “People don't know what to do with their time. They don't know what they're saying.
“That's why I prefer to stay on my side and not get involved with anyone…because people gossip and tell terrible stories.”
In September 2023, authorities searched the girl's mother's home and seized 800,000 Dominican pesos (approximately $13,700) and $68,500 hidden behind a picture frame.
A separate seizure at another home uncovered a 2.1 million Dominican peso (approximately $36,000) bond issued by a local bank, which Franco had used for the “commercial and sexual exploitation” of girls. It was said to have been delivered.
They also seized a Suzuki Swift valued at $26,600, documents said.
Authorities noted that the teen's mother had $821 worth of money in her bank account days before the car was purchased.
Her mother also bought $36,000 worth of real estate in Puerto Plata, she said.
Authorities also said Franco's mother sent money to the girl's mother, but Franco was not charged, even though they said she was involved “to avoid leaving a trace of the defendant and her son.” do not have.
Franco, who signed the largest contract in Rays history in 2021 (an 11-year extension worth $182 million), was placed on administrative leave by MLB on August 22 and will no longer be responsible for all Rays advertising and stadium decorations. It looked like it had been stripped away.
Despite his absence, his performance during the season, in which he batted .281 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 112 games, earned him a $700,000 pool bonus and All-Star honors.
— with AP
