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An appeals court on Tuesday ordered a new trial in the Dominican Republic for convicted Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who was found guilty of sexually abusing a minor, resulting in a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Franco’s lawyers pushed for the 24-year-old’s sentence to be suspended and the sentence overturned. At the same time, prosecutors had been seeking a five-year sentence for the Rays’ star infielder.
Franco’s side was ultimately what the appeals court ruled in favor of on Tuesday, ordering that a new panel of judges oversee his case.
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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco sits in court during his trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernández)
“The court understood that there were many flaws, many omissions… many issues, and decided to send the case to a new trial,” Tedosio Jáquez, Franco’s lawyer, said after the ruling.
Prosecutor José Martínez Montan, who serves as prosecutor for the province of Puerto Plata, maintains his position that the evidence from the first trial was sufficient to convict Franco.
WANDER FRANCO DE LOS RAYOS PLEADS GUILTY IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASE
“In a new trial, the procedures will be re-evaluated. We won the case in the first trial and we expect the same in the new trial,” Montan explained.
Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21. He also faced charges of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor and human trafficking.
Dominican baseball star Wander Franco gestures as he leaves court in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, June 26, 2025. Franco received a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl. (LUIS TAVÁREZ/AFP)
Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, the victim’s mother, was also found guilty of sex trafficking her daughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was also granted a new trial on Tuesday.
Franco transferred thousands of dollars to the victim’s mother to consent to the illegal relationship.
The switch-hitting shortstop last played in the MLB in August 2023 before he was placed on administrative leave after allegations surfaced.
Now, Franco remains on MLB’s restricted list, and his current conviction could make it unlikely that he will obtain a work visa in the United States and play for the Rays again.
Dominican baseball star Wander Franco gestures during his trial in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, June 26, 2025. Franco received a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl. (Luis Tavárez / AFP)
He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with Tampa Bay in November 2021, establishing himself as a critical piece to build on for years to come. The contract could have been worth up to $223 million with a club option.
