Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was declared criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but he will not serve a sentence, a Dominican judge ruled Monday.
Judge José Antonio Núñez considered Franco a victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor's mother, who received a 10-year prison sentence for sexually trafficking her daughter.
"It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment. 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," explained Núñez.
Franco, 22 at the time of the alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl, was arrested in January 2024. He had faced additional charges of sexual and commercial exploitation and human trafficking but was previously found not guilty of those.
Franco expressed calmness after the ruling, asking fans for continued support. Major League Baseball said it would conclude its investigation at the appropriate time.
In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays, but his career stalled after authorities announced they were investigating him in August 2023.