SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been formally accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic.
Prosecutors filed multiple charges against Franco six months after the judge handed down his sentence. He was ordered to be investigated. In relation to sexual and psychological abuse of girls.
Nairobi Viloria, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors had submitted their final and formal charges to the judge.
The indictment also includes the girl’s mother, who remains under house arrest and faces money laundering charges, after prosecutors say Franco paid her thousands of dollars in exchange for consenting to the abuse, which lasted four months.
The Associated Press is not identifying the woman to protect her daughter’s privacy.
The most serious charges Franco faces are rape, which could carry a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years, and human trafficking, which carries a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years in the Dominican Republic.
Franco remains in the Dominican Republic while authorities investigate him. He has been required to attend monthly supervision visits with the court since January. In April, he asked to suspend the visits, but a judge rejected the request.
Franco, 23, is due to stand trial in a court in the northern province of Puerto Plata, where the attack is alleged to have occurred.
MLB placed Franco, who is making $2 million this year, on the restricted list on Wednesday and suspended the pay he was receiving while on leave.
A person familiar with Franco’s situation told The Associated Press that the player was receiving 50 percent of his salary while on leave, asking not to be identified because the details have not been made public. That means Franco earned half his salary, or $559,140, in 104 days of the 186-day season.
Franco will not serve any prison time while on the restricted list, but the suspension is not considered a disciplinary measure.
“We are aware of the allegations against Mr. Franco,” MLB said in a statement Wednesday. “The investigation is ongoing and we will continue to closely monitor developments in the case.”
Tampa Bay’s All-Star shortstop hasn’t played since Aug. 12. Franco $182 million, 11-year contract November 2021.
Franco’s U.S.-based lawyer, Jay Reisinger, said Tuesday he could not comment because Franco had not been formally notified of the charges.
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___ Associated Press baseball writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
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