Dominican judge denies request to lift court order against Rays’ Wander Franco in sex abuse probe

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A judge denied a request by Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco to suspend required monthly meetings with Dominican authorities investigating allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, according to a document The Associated Press obtained Friday.

Franco is accused of sexual and psychological abuse and remains under conditional release as the investigation against the All-Star player continues.

He has not been formally charged, but Dominican authorities are allowed to detain suspects who are under investigation, with a judge later deciding whether there is sufficient evidence for charges to be filed.

Prosecutors have alleged that Franco paid the minor girl’s mother thousands of dollars for her consent to the relationship, which lasted four months. The girl’s mother is charged in the case and remains under house arrest. The AP is not naming the woman in order to preserve her daughter’s privacy.

Franco’s attorneys requested that the court return the $33,000 he had to deposit to obtain conditional release after being detained for a week in his native country in early January.

The judge also denied that request after prosecutors rejected it and asked that all measures taken against Franco be upheld “since (his) presence must be guaranteed at each step of the process.”

Franco’s attorneys have appealed both decisions, which were issued in March. A ruling is pending.

Franco was having an All-Star season before being sidelined in August, when Dominican authorities began their investigation as did Major League Baseball, placing Franco on the restricted list on Aug. 14 before moving him to administrative leave on Aug. 22. Both investigations are ongoing.

MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican investigation is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline.

Franco, who turned 23 on March 1, was in the midst of his third major league season when his career was halted and was hitting .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts over 112 games.

Franco signed a $182 million, 11-year contract in 2021. His salary last year and this year is $2 million per season.