Rays shortstop Wander Franco is formally charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old woman TERMAN WEBSITE

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been formally charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old woman within the Dominican Republic.

Prosecutors filed a number of prices towards Franco six months after a choose ordered that he be investigated in reference to sexual and psychological abuse of the woman.

Nairobi Viloria, the legal professional common’s workplace spokesperson, confirmed to The Related Press on Tuesday that prosecutors introduced earlier than a choose the ultimate and formal accusation.

The indictment additionally consists of the woman’s mom. In line with prosecutors, Franco paid the woman’s mom hundreds of {dollars} to consent to the abuse, which lasted 4 months. The woman’s mom stays below home arrest and faces a cash laundering cost.

The AP just isn’t figuring out the girl to protect her daughter’s privateness.

Probably the most severe prices that Franco can be dealing with are rape, for which he might obtain sentences of between 10 and 15 years in jail, and human trafficking, which is punishable within the Dominican Republic by sentences of between 15 and 20 years.

Franco, who has a $2 million wage this yr, has remained within the Dominican Republic whereas authorities examine. He has been required to make month-to-month monitoring visits to the court docket since January. In April, he requested that the visits be suspended, which the choose denied.

Franco can be tried in a court docket within the province of Puerto Plata, within the north of the nation, the place the occasions allegedly occurred.

Franco, 23, is on administrative depart via July 14 below an settlement between Main League Baseball and the gamers’ affiliation.

Administrative depart just isn’t disciplinary below the game’s joint home violence, sexual assault and baby abuse coverage, and a participant continues to be paid.

“We’re conscious of the costs towards Mr. Franco,” MLB stated in a press release Wednesday. “Our investigation stays open, and we are going to proceed to intently monitor the case because it strikes ahead.”

Tampa Bay’s All-Star shortstop has not performed since Aug. 12. Franco agreed to a $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021.

Jay Reisinger, Franco’s U.S.-based lawyer, stated Tuesday he couldn’t remark as a result of Franco had not acquired formal notification of any prices.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb