The Dominican baseball player Wander Franco, member of the Tampa Bay Rays, was arrested this Monday by the authorities in San Juan de la Maguana after allegedly being involved in a fight in that town.
The information was confirmed to the newspaper HOY by a fully credible source.
So far, authorities have not offered official details about the exact circumstances of the incident.
Franco has a case for sexual exploitation
The Dominican professional baseball player, Wander Franco Aybarwas officially accused by the Public Ministry of sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor. While the mother of the alleged victim, whose name is omitted for legal reasons, is charged with money laundering.
Franco Aybar is accused of violating the provisions of Principle V, of articles 25, 396 literals B and C, 409 and 410, of law 136-03, which is the Code for the System of Protection of the Fundamental Rights of Boys, Girls and Adolescents.
Also, articles 265, 266 and 331 of the Dominican Penal Code, as well as articles 3 of Law 137-03 on Illicit Smuggling of Migrants and Human Trafficking.
Timeline of the scandal
– January 1/2024: The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop was arrested in Puerto Plata, after appearing to face accusations from the prosecution body for allegedly having had a sexual relationship with a minor under 14 years of age.
Franco appeared at the prosecutor’s office accompanied by his lawyers Teodocio Jáquez and Francisco Rodríguez, days after not having attended a meeting with the national director of Children, Adolescents and Family of the Public Ministry, Olga Diná Llaverías, as reported at the time. .
– January 5/2024: The Permanent Attention judge of Puerto Plata, Romaldy Marcelino, ordered Wander Franco to appear in court on the 30th of each month and pay a financial guarantee of two million pesos as a measure of coercion by the accusation.
After learning the magistrate’s decision, the baseball player He left the court with a smile, without commenting to the press.
– March 28/2024: La Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that Dominican shortstop Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave before the start of the Rays’ Opening Day against the Blue Jays.
This license removed him from the Rays’ 40-man roster and was effective until June 1. The decision was made jointly between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.
– Mayo 24/2024: The Court of Appeal of the province of Puerto Plata varied the measure of coercion against the baseball player Wander Franco, reported Dignora Diloné, lawyer for the father of the alleged victim.
The jurist indicated that the court decided administratively to lift the measure of periodic presentation before the prosecutor’s office, but maintained the financial guarantee of RD$2 million imposed on Franco.
– Mayo 30/2024: It is announced that the MLB and the players’ association extended Wander Franco’s administrative license until July 14.
Franco entered the restricted list on August 14 for a week, while the MLB began an investigation after a message on social media that suggested the player had a relationship with a minor.
– Julio 08/2024: The Public Ministry formally presented the accusation before the First Court of Instruction of the province of Puerto Plata against the accused and the mother of the minor. However, it was the night of Tuesday the 9th when the information was released to the press.
