Latest news with #PuertoPlata
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco begins in Dominican Republic
PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco started Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Franco told judges he wants justice to be done. Franco has been charged in the northern province of Puerto Plata with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. Prosecutors introduced documents as pieces of evidence against the 24-year-old Franco during the first hearing, and added they will call at least seven witnesses in a trial that is expected to proceed on Thursday, Friday and next Monday. Franco heard the charges against him and could be sentenced to up to 30 years in jail. 'I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,' Franco told the judges. Irina Ventura, one of Franco's attorneys, said part of the evidence against her client is fraudulent and illegal. Teodosio Jaquez, another member of the player's legal team, said that the underage girl denied having sexual relations with the player. Prosecutor Claudio Cordero said all the evidence 'was obtained in a lawful manner, are self-sufficient and will lead to a conviction, which is sought by the prosecutor's office.' Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12, but was postponed until June. The trial could take up to eight months to conclude, based on the average duration of trials in the Dominican Republic. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco begins in Dominican Republic
PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco started Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Franco told judges he wants justice to be done. Franco has been charged in the northern province of Puerto Plata with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. Prosecutors introduced documents as pieces of evidence against the 24-year-old Franco during the first hearing, and added they will call at least seven witnesses in a trial that is expected to proceed on Thursday, Friday and next Monday. Franco heard the charges against him and could be sentenced to up to 30 years in jail. 'I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,' Franco told the judges. Irina Ventura, one of Franco's attorneys, said part of the evidence against her client is fraudulent and illegal. Teodosio Jaquez, another member of the player's legal team, said that the underage girl denied having sexual relations with the player. Prosecutor Claudio Cordero said all the evidence 'was obtained in a lawful manner, are self-sufficient and will lead to a conviction, which is sought by the prosecutor's office.' Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12, but was postponed until June. The trial could take up to eight months to conclude, based on the average duration of trials in the Dominican Republic. ___ AP MLB:
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Rays star Wander Franco faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is scheduled to go to trial Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Now 24, Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12 but was postponed until June. Here's what to know about the trial: What are the charges against Wander Franco? Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. After an investigation that lasted over a year, judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, ruled in September that the evidence presented by prosecutors was worthy of the case moving to trial. Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge in July and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos or $US17,000 to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse. The mother of the minor has been charged with money laundering and is under house arrest. Prosecutors say that the minor's mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During raids on the house of the minor's mother, prosecutors say they found $US68,500 and $US35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco. After the hearing in September, Franco said 'everything is in God's hands.' He has otherwise refused to speak to the media. When is Franco's trial? The trial was set to begin June 2 at a court in the northern province of Puerto Plata. His case will be heard by either three or five judges. There are no jury trials in the Dominican Republic. The judges will hear the arguments from both sides and the witnesses' testimony, and then analyze the evidence and deliver a verdict. The trial could take up to eight months to conclude, based on the average duration of trials in the Dominican Republic. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial in December at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco's lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco needed to report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. What could be his sentence if found guilty? If convicted, Franco could face up to 20 years in prison. Is Franco being held in jail? Franco has been free on supervised release, although he had been required to make monthly control visits to the judge. He was also arrested and granted another supervised release in November for illegally carrying a gun in his vehicle. The arrest followed an argument in an apartment complex parking lot. Another man and a woman also were detained in the confrontation. Two firearms were seized, police said. Dominican judge Viamerca Ruiz said Franco needs to report to court once a month while he is being investigated for carrying the firearm that was registered under his uncle's name. One of Franco's lawyers said because the gun has a license, 'there's nothing illegal about it.' A conviction for illegally possessing a firearm could prompt a three- to five-year prison sentence. Is Franco still being paid? No, but he was for nearly a year after Dominican authorities opened their probe. Franco, who signed a $US182 million, 11-year contract with the Rays in 2021, was briefly placed on the restricted list and then administrative leave in August 2023 when Dominican authorities opened their investigation. Because administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, Franco was paid during that time. Technically, there is no leave during the offseason, and Franco was again placed on administrative leave at the start of the 2024 season until prosecutors filed the current charges on July 10. At that time, MLB placed Franco — who had a $US2 million salary in 2024 — on its restricted list, cutting off the pay he had been receiving under administrative leave. He had been receiving 50 per cent of his salary on administrative leave, a person familiar with his situation told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail had not been disclosed publicly. When he was placed on the restricted list, his pay was adjusted to $US1,118,280, or salary for 104 days of the 186-day season. MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican trial is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline. ___ AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Wander Franco trial: Rays star faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic
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) Warning: This story contains graphic details and allegations of sexual assault Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is scheduled to go to trial Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Now 24, Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12 but was postponed until June. Here's what to know about the trial: What are the charges against Wander Franco? Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking. After an investigation that lasted over a year, judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, ruled in September that the evidence presented by prosecutors was worthy of the case moving to trial. Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge in July and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos or US$17,000 to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse. The mother of the minor has been charged with money laundering and is under house arrest. Prosecutors say that the minor's mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During raids on the house of the minor's mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco. After the hearing in September, Franco said 'everything is in God's hands.' He has otherwise refused to speak to the media. When is Franco's trial? The trial was set to begin June 2 at a court in the northern province of Puerto Plata. His case will be heard by either three or five judges. There are no jury trials in the Dominican Republic. The judges will hear the arguments from both sides and the witnesses' testimony, and then analyze the evidence and deliver a verdict. The trial could take up to eight months to conclude, based on the average duration of trials in the Dominican Republic. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial in December at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco's lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco needed to report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. What could be his sentence if found guilty? If convicted, Franco could face up to 20 years in prison. Is Franco being held in jail? Franco has been free on supervised release, although he had been required to make monthly control visits to the judge. He was also arrested and granted another supervised release in November for illegally carrying a gun in his vehicle. The arrest followed an argument in an apartment complex parking lot. Another man and a woman also were detained in the confrontation. Two firearms were seized, police said. Dominican judge Viamerca Ruiz said Franco needs to report to court once a month while he is being investigated for carrying the firearm that was registered under his uncle's name. One of Franco's lawyers said because the gun has a license, 'there's nothing illegal about it.' A conviction for illegally possessing a firearm could prompt a three- to five-year prison sentence. Is Franco still being paid? No, but he was for nearly a year after Dominican authorities opened their probe. Franco, who signed a $182 million, 11-year contract with the Rays in 2021, was briefly placed on the restricted list and then administrative leave in August 2023 when Dominican authorities opened their investigation. Because administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, Franco was paid during that time. Technically, there is no leave during the offseason, and Franco was again placed on administrative leave at the start of the 2024 season until prosecutors filed the current charges on July 10. At that time, MLB placed Franco — who had a $2 million salary in 2024 — on its restricted list, cutting off the pay he had been receiving under administrative leave. He had been receiving 50 per cent of his salary on administrative leave, a person familiar with his situation told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail had not been disclosed publicly. When he was placed on the restricted list, his pay was adjusted to $1,118,280, or salary for 104 days of the 186-day season. MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican trial is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline. AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report. Martín Adames, The Associated Press
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Wander Franco issues impassioned plea as disgraced MLB star arrives for first day of sexual abuse trial
Wander Franco addressed the court for the first time Monday as the s exual abuse trial against him began in the Dominican Republic. The former Tampa Bay Rays star is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. Now 24, he was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The case went to trial Monday after prosecutors in the Dominican Republic reportedly claimed to have 'conclusive evidence' against the disgraced baseball star. But addressing the judges for the first time in Puerto Plata, Franco appeared to maintain his innocence as he called for justice. 'I have heard everything that they are saying [in the indictment], but the only thing that I am going to say is that I hope justice is done,' the shortstop said, via ESPN's Enrique Rojas. During the opening part of the hearing, the Dominican authorities laid out their arguments against the former MLB player. 'Franco Aybar abducted the victim for sexual purposes for several days in the municipality of Villa Montellano, in the province of Puerto Plata,' prosecutors reiterated. '(He) then sent large sums of money to her mother (also under indictment) to prevent her from reporting him.' They claimed that the money was used to buy property. Prosecutors repeatedly alleged that Franco maintained a relationship of sexual exploitation and abuse for eight months with the minor. They argued that during that period, the minor's mother benefited from payments of money in exchange for maintaining her silence. When Franco's defense team took the stand, his lawyers argued that the prosecution had no evidence to connect their client to the crimes he's accused of. They further claimed that the accusation is flawed. The alleged victim's mother is also set to stand trial on charges of sexual exploitation and money laundering. After an investigation that lasted over a year, judge Pascual Valenzuela ruled last September that the evidence was worthy of the case moving to trial. 'It's a solid accusation and the court understood it,' prosecutor Claudio Cordero said at the time. 'The evidence linked the defendants to what's described in the accusation.' If convicted, Franco could face up to 20 years in prison. He's also facing separate gun-related charges in the Dominican Republic and could face up to five additional years behind bars if convicted. The authorities allege that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos (or $17,000) to the mother of the minor on January 5, 2023, to consent to the abuse. Prosecutors say that the minor's mother went from being a bank employee to leading an ostentatious life and acquiring assets using the funds she received from Franco. During raids on the house of the minor's mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco. After the hearing in September, Franco said 'everything is in God's hands.' He has otherwise refused to speak to the media. Franco, who signed a $182million, 11-year contract with the Rays in 2021, was also arrested in November for illegally carrying a gun in his vehicle. It followed an argument in an apartment complex parking lot.
