Rays shortstop Wander Franco charged with sexual exploitation of 14-year-old girl

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is scheduled to go to trial Aug. 14 after being charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic, authorities said Wednesday.

Prosecutors filed multiple charges against Franco six months after a judge ordered that he be investigated in connection with sexual and psychological abuse of the girl.

Nairobi Viloria, the attorney general's office spokesperson, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors presented before a judge the final and formal accusation.

The indictment also includes the girl's mother. According to prosecutors, Franco paid the girl's mother thousands of dollars to consent to the abuse, which lasted four months. The girl's mother remains under house arrest and faces a money laundering charge.

The AP is not identifying the woman to preserve her daughter's privacy.

The most serious charges Franco will be facing are rape, for which he could receive sentences of between 10 and 15 years in prison, and human trafficking, which is punishable in the Dominican Republic by sentences of between 15 and 20 years.

Franco has remained in the Dominican Republic while authorities investigate. He has been required to make monthly monitoring visits to the court since January. In April, he requested that the visits be suspended, which the judge denied.

On MLB restricted list

Franco, 23, will be tried in a court in the province of Puerto Plata, in the north of the country, where the events allegedly occurred.

"I mean, ultimately, serious charges, very concerning," Rays manager Kevin Cash said before the team's game Wednesday. "Probably best that I don't comment much past that and keep our focus on this team."

MLB placed Franco, who has a $2 million US salary this year, on its restricted list Wednesday, cutting off the pay he had been receiving under administrative leave.

He had been receiving 50 per cent of his salary on that leave, a person familiar with his situation told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail has not been disclosed publicly. That meant Franco accrued $559,140, or half of his salary for 104 days of the 186-day season.

Franco also will not receive service time while on the restricted list, a placement not considered disciplinary action.

"We are aware of the charges against Mr. Franco," MLB said in a statement Wednesday. "Our investigation remains open, and we will continue to closely monitor the case as it moves forward."

Tampa Bay's all-star shortstop has not played since Aug. 12. Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182-million contract in November 2021.

Jay Reisinger, Franco's U.S.-based lawyer, said Tuesday he could not comment because Franco had not received formal notification of any charges.