Dominican court finds Wander Franco guilty, issues pardon

A Dominican court has found former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but he will not serve a prison sentence. The ruling was delivered on Monday in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, by a three-judge panel led by Judge José Antonio Núñez.

The court determined that while Franco was guilty of the charges, he was also a victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor's mother. This dual status led the judges to grant him a judicial pardon, exempting him from incarceration. The mother of the girl, who was 14 years old at the time the relationship began, was sentenced to ten years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter and money laundering.

Franco was arrested in January 2024 after being accused of having a four-month relationship with the minor and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother. He was initially convicted in June 2025 and given a two-year suspended sentence, but both the prosecution and the defense appealed, leading to a new trial. Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term.

After Monday's hearing, Franco left the courthouse with his attorney, Teodosio Jaquez. He briefly told...