Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested within the Dominican Republic on Monday afternoon, in accordance with ESPN. The arrest stems from Franco’s failure to look at summons final week — an necessary distinction because it means Franco was not detained on account of an development within the ongoing investigation into his alleged inappropriate relationships with a number of minors.
Franco and new attorneys Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación and Juan Francisco Rodríguez Consoró met with prosecutors on Monday morning to handle these accusations. On Wednesday, prosecutors delivered proof to a choose, who is predicted to situation a ruling on the following steps Friday, reviews the Related Press.
Listed below are extra particulars, by way of the Related Press:
Dominican prosecutors on Wednesday accused Wander Franco of industrial sexual exploitation and cash laundering following allegations that the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop had a relationship with a minor whose mom additionally faces the identical costs.
Prosecutors requested {that a} choose maintain Franco on an $86,000 bond, bar him from leaving the Dominican Republic and place him underneath home arrest. They famous the cash laundering costs stems from allegations that Franco made funds to the minor’s mom.
The choose’s choices embody releasing Franco on bond, briefly arresting him, stopping him from leaving the Dominican Republic, or requiring him seem recurrently till the investigation or a trial has ended, in accordance with the AP.
The Rays issued no remark to the Tampa Bay Instances when requested concerning the Monday’s developments.
ESPN reported final week that at the very least two folks have “filed authorized motion” towards Franco, and {that a} third had accused him of improper conduct with out but looking for authorized motion. Dominican authorities and MLB have continued to analyze the allegations made towards him.
The Related Press reported that Franco lately modified his authorized illustration.
Franco, 22, was positioned on Main League Baseball’s Restricted Record in August after he was first accused of the improper relationship on social media. Franco continued to be paid for the remainder of the season regardless of not showing in a recreation since Aug. 12. The Rays, in what amounted to a paper transfer, activated him to the 40-player roster originally of the offseason.
“We help any steps taken by the league to higher perceive the state of affairs,” the Rays stated in a press release in August. “Out of respect for all events concerned, we have now no additional feedback presently.”
Franco signed an 11-year extension price $182 million with the Rays in November 2021. He made the All-Star Sport this previous summer season.
