STORY: Professional baseball player Wander Franco was found guilty of sexually abusing a minor-
-and given a two-year suspended prison sentence, a Dominican court ruled on Thursday.
The 24-year-old was also fined but will avoid jail time if he meets certain conditions laid out by a judge.
Franco, once a star shortstop for Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays,
was accused of having a relationship with a 14-year-old girl –
– allegedly with her mother’s consent.
Prosecutors said the acts happened in the Dominican Republic and involved payments and travel, amounting to exploitation.
The victim’s mother was also convicted on Thursday and sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined.
Prosecutor Jose Martinez said they proved the victim’s mother laundered money and exploited her daughter’s vulnerability.
Franco had been under investigation since August 2023 and was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball.
Once considered one of baseball’s top young prospects, he signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in 2021.
He has not played in the major leagues since being placed on leave.