Wander Franco Request Denied by Dominican Republic Judge in Sexual Abuse Case
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco tried to suspend required monthly meetings with authorities in the Dominican Republic, but this was just denied by the judge overseeing his sexual abuse case in the Caribbean country.
The MLB star, who is currently on leave because of the sexual abuse scandal, stands accused of not just sexual abuse but also psychological abuse when he, a fully-grown adult man, had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. However, he is still under investigation and the former Dominican Republic national team star still has not yet been charged in the case.
Franco currently remains under conditional release as the investigation into the former MLB All-Star's relationship with a minor continues, according to the Associated Press. During this time. He is required to meet with Dominican Republic authorities on a monthly basis, and this was what Franco tried to stop in his filing.
This denial by the judge was the latest legal setback for the Tampa Bay Rays star as he previously requested that the court return the $33,000 he had to deposit to obtain his conditional release after being held in custody for about a week in the Dominican Republic.
The judge also denied the request after prosecutors asked that the measures against him be upheld "since (his) presence must be guaranteed at each step of the process."
It is alleged that Franco paid the mother of the then-14-year-old girl thousands of dollars for her consent to the relationship. Unlike Franco, the mother has already been charged and has been placed under house arrest.
Wander Franco Is Still on Administrative Leave as the Sexual Abuse Investigation Continues
The MLB season has already started, but the Tampa Bay Rays are still without their star shortstop, Wander Franco, because he is still under investigation for sexual abuse back in the Dominican Republic. The team has placed him on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
Under an agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association, Franco will be on administrative leave until June 1. Because he is considered innocent until proven guilty, the administrative leave is not considered disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.
This means that the Tampa Bay Rays are still paying Wander Franco his $2 million salary for 2024 while he stays in his home country, the Dominican Republic, for the investigation. He did not report during the entire spring training that teams usually go through before the season begins, according to the AP.
Wander Franco Is Still on Administrative Leave as the Sexual Abuse Investigation Continues
The MLB season has already started but the Tampa Bay Rays are still without their star shortstop, Wander Franco, because he is still under investigation for sexual abuse back in the Dominican Republic. The team has placed him on administrative leave as the investigation continues to go on.
Under an agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association, Franco will be on administrative leave until June 1. Because he is considered innocent until proven guilty, the administrative leave is not considered disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.
This means that the Tampa Bay Rays are still paying Wander Franco his $2 million salary for 2024 while he stays in his home country, the Dominican Republic, for the investigation. He did not report during the entire spring training that teams usually go through before the season begins, according to the AP.
Wander Franco Sexual Abuse Case May Fall Apart if Prosecutors Cannot Convince Judge Before Deadline
As for why Franco's administrative leave will only last until June 1, this is because the judge in the case has set a June 1 deadline for prosecutors to officially charge the all-star shortstop. So far, they have not.
Because he has not yet been charged, the defense is now claiming that the prosecution's case is falling apart as they have not yet found a way to make a criminal case against Franco will hold up in court.
"To some extent, yes it is falling apart because the original charges that were brought against Franco were reduced by the judge," defense attorney, Anthony Rickman, told Fox 13. "The court found that the allegations of sexual exploitation didn't meet the evidentiary standard for the government to go forward with the charges."
However, the lawyer conceded, "Regardless of what the Dominican courts do on this criminal side, there are potential sanctions from Major League Baseball through the domestic abuse policy that could ultimately result in Franco still not playing baseball in the major leagues."
READ MORE: Dominican Republic: This Caribbean Country Is Simply Crazy With Baseball
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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