Ex-Tampa Bay Rays Star Wander Franco Found Criminally Responsible of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, But Avoids Jail Time

A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled on Monday, May 25, that Franco will not serve jail time as he was simultaneously a 'victim' of extortion

NEED TO KNOW

• Former Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor
• Judge José Antonio Núñez delivered the ruling in Puerto Plata Collegiate Court in the Dominican Republic on Monday, May 25
• Franco was pardoned and will not serve jail time because the court found that he was simultaneously a victim of blackmail and extortion at the hands of the victim’s mother, who took large sums of money from him and has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for “sexually trafficking” her daughter

Former Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor in a Dominican court, but a judge ruled on Monday, May 25, that he will not serve jail time.

Judge José Antonio Núñez delivered the ruling in Puerto Plata Collegiate Court in the Dominican Republic, The Athletic reported.

Franco, 25, while found "criminally responsible" for his interactions with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21, was simultaneously found to be the victim of "extortion" and "blackmail" after prosecutors found that the victim's mother was demanding large sums of money from him, according to ESPN. The victim's mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "sexually trafficking" her daughter, per the outlet.

The former MLB player was initially arrested in 2024 after he was accused of engaging in an improper relationship with the young girl, The Athletic and ESPN reported. Franco was also accused of sending the girl's mother money in return for her silence, per the outlets.

He was placed on the restricted list amid an MLB investigation surrounding social media posts made about him in August 2023.

Now-deleted posts on X were the first to allege that Franco was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The Rays confirmed that the team and the league “mutually agreed” to the move.

“We were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco,” the team said in a statement at the time. “We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence."

"It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment," Judge Núñez said in court on Monday, ESPN reported. "The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one."

“Here, the only victim is the minor, and Wander is a collateral victim,” Judge Núñez said in court, per The Athletic.

Following the judge's ruling, Franco embraced his mother, according to ESPN.

"Thank God for everything," Franco said in court.

"We respect the legal process and the decision issued by the court," the Rays said in a statement, per the outlet. "This is a serious matter, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the case."

"The Rays will continue to cooperate fully with Major League Baseball as it completes its review under the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy," the statement continued. "Out of respect for the legal process and all parties involved, we will have no further comment at this time."

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A full sentencing hearing is currently slated for June 16 in the Dominican Republic, per ESPN.

Franco was originally found guilty in June 2025, but in December 2025, the Court of Appeals of the Judicial Department of Puerto Plata ordered a new trial, according to Dominican newspaper Listin Diario. The judge also ruled that a financial certificate for RD$2,100,000 (around $35,700) from Banco Agrícola is to be given to the victim when she reaches adulthood, per the outlet.

PEOPLE has reached out to a representative for the Rays for comment.

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