Although it hit a whopping KRW 248.5 billion...Sexual crimes for minors eventually fall to five years in prison

Jun 24, 2025

Although it hit a whopping KRW 248.5 billion...Sexual crimes for minors eventually fall to five years in prison
FILE - Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco attends his trial on charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez, File) FILE PHOTO



Although it hit a whopping KRW 248.5 billion...Sexual crimes for minors eventually fall to five years in prison
epa12151774 The baseball player Wander Franco (2L) speaks with his lawyer, Teodosio Jaquez (C), after attending the the first session of the trial against him, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, 02 June 2025. The main trial against the Major League player Wander Franco accused of sexually abusing a teenager, began this 02 June in Puerto Plata, in a case in which the minor's mother is also being tried for alleged exploitation of her daughter and money laundering. EPA/Luis Tavarez

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Wander Franco (24), a major league prospect, was sentenced to prison.

Local media, including the U.S. sports media ESPN, reported on the 24th (Korean time) 'The prosecution of the Dominican Republic requested Franco to be sentenced to five years in prison'

Franco is under investigation for allegedly sexually abusing minors in 2023. According to the media, there is sufficient evidence to prove that the prosecution had a relationship for four months in court. He also explained that he transferred a large amount of money to the underage mother to agree to the illegal relationship.




The media reported that the prosecution found $68,500 (about 9.34 million won) and $35,000 (about 47.74 million won) believed to have been delivered by Franco during the raid on the home of the underage mother.

Prosecutors asked the underage mother to be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Although it hit a whopping KRW 248.5 billion...Sexual crimes for minors eventually fall to five years in prison
epa12151651 Dominican Major League Baseball player Wander Franco, accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, attends the first session of trial in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, 02 June 2025. The trial against Franco began in Puerto Plata in a case where the minor's mother is also being tried for alleged exploitation of her daughter and money laundering. EPA/Luis Tavarez

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Franco's lawyers pleaded not guilty and asked for the dismissal. The court is expected to rule on the 27th.




Meanwhile, Franco made his debut with Tampa Bay in 2021 and played 70 games in his first year, batting .288 with seven homers and 39 RBIs.

Tampa Bay was also fascinated by his stellar debut. After the 2021 season, he announced his intention to grow into a franchise star by signing an ultra-long-term contract for an 11-year total of $182 million.

Franco has consistently shown off his slugging power every year, and especially in 2023, he seemed to be rising to a star by bursting his potential with a batting average of 281 and 17 home runs in 112 games. He played 265 games in three seasons and showed a steady performance with a batting average of 282 and 30 home runs and an OPS (long hit rate + on base rate) of 0.794. But in the end, he was on the verge of ending his career with crime.




Franco is currently suspended from playing in the Major League and has been listed as a restricted player.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.