Dominican court orders new trial for Rays' Franco

"An appeals court in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday ordered a new trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who was convicted earlier this year of sexually abusing a minor and had received a two-year suspended sentence. Tuesday's ruling comes after Franco's attorneys had pushed to have his conviction suspended and sentencing overturned, while prosecutors had been seeking a five-year sentence."

"The appeals court ruled in favor of Franco, ordering that a new panel of judges oversee the case. "The court understood that there were many flaws, many omissions...many issues, and decided to send the case to a new trial," said Teodosio Jáquez, Franco's attorney. Meanwhile, prosecutor José Martínez Montan, the district attorney for the province of Puerto Plata, where the case is being heard, said he maintains his belief in the evidence presented during the first trial earlier this year."

"Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship. In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract, but his career was upended when authorities in the Dominican Republic announced in August 2023 that they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time."

An appeals court in the Dominican Republic ordered a new trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco after finding procedural flaws in his conviction. Franco had been convicted of sexually abusing a minor and given a two-year suspended sentence. His attorneys sought to suspend the conviction and overturn sentencing while prosecutors had sought a five-year term. The appeals court sent the case to a new panel of judges. Prosecutors said they maintain belief in the evidence from the first trial. Franco was accused of a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old and of transferring thousands of dollars to the girl's mother; Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list and cut his pay.

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