Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has reportedly been charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation in opposition to a minor.
Franco was positioned on administrative go away on Aug. 22 as Major League Baseball investigated his alleged relationships with underage ladies.
The allegations had been made public earlier that month following social media posts, however the first grievance was filed in July.
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The Rays started to take down photographs of Franco round Tropicana Field amid the allegations. There has additionally been no signal of Franco merchandise being bought on the Rays’ workforce retailer inside their ballpark.
Franco final performed a Major League recreation on Aug. 12, and with the costs, it’s now more and more seemingly he won’t ever play once more.
Franco was an All-Star for the primary time final season. He slashed .281/.344/.475 with 17 homers and 58 RBI over 112 video games this previous season.
He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension in November 2021, however a workforce possibility in 2033 might make the deal value $233 million when it’s over. Of course, the Rays might get out of it if Franco goes to jail, citing a “good citizenship” clause within the uniform participant contract.
Tampa Bay Rays Dominican baseball shortstop Wander Franco, middle, who faces an accusation of molesting an underage woman, arrives in court docket underneath heavy escort in Puerto Plata, within the Dominican Republic, on Jan. 5, 2024. (STR/AFP through Getty Images)
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After Dominican police raided two properties related to Franco simply earlier than the brand new yr, he was ultimately arrested. He was later launched underneath the situation that he meet with native authorities as soon as a month.
According to ESPN, Dominican prosecutors say that Franco referred to as the minor “my woman” in a WhatsApp message, admitting that the connection was a “danger,” however he “cherished it.”
“My woman,” Franco allegedly wrote in Spanish. “If my workforce realizes this, it might trigger issues for me. It is a rule for all groups that we can’t speak to minors, and but I took the danger and I cherished it.”
Prosecutors say Franco’s relationship with the woman, now 15, lasted 4 months, and he paid her to not talk about it. The woman’s mom additionally faces prices for cash laundering based mostly on presents despatched to her by Franco. Franco and the woman met on Dec. 9, 2022, after he “took her from her residence,” had intercourse twice in a two-day span and started their relationship.
Wander Franco, #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays, reacts in opposition to the New York Yankees earlier than the primary inning at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 1, 2023 in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
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Franco gave the woman the equal of $46,000 in July and August, the paperwork say, and paid the mom about $1,700 per thirty days, together with a brand new automotive.
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