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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic, but a Puerto Plata court exempted him from prison through a judicial pardon.
The May 25, 2026 ruling matters beyond baseball because Franco remains tied to Major League Baseball’s conduct process, his $182 million Rays contract, and a case that has tested how Dominican courts handled allegations involving a minor, money transfers and alleged exploitation by the victim’s mother.
Key Facts from the Ruling
Judge José Antonio Núñez ruled that Franco was criminally responsible under Dominican law, while also finding that the player had been a “material victim” of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother.
The mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter, according to the Associated Press.
The case centered on allegations that Franco had a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time. Franco was arrested in January 2024 after being accused of transferring money to the girl’s mother to allow the illegal relationship, AP reported.
The court’s decision does not amount to an acquittal. Spanish-language AP coverage published by El Nuevo Día quoted the court document as declaring Wander Samuel Franco Aybar criminally responsible for violating provisions of Dominican Law 136-03 related to sexual and psychological abuse of a minor.
The same report said the court maintained culpability while exempting him from punishment.
Latest Verified Update
As of May 26, 2026, Franco is not expected to serve prison time under the court’s latest decision, but the full written sentencing document has not yet been released.
Franco’s attorney, Teodosio Jáquez, said the defense was waiting for the formal sentence before giving more detail, and AP reported that the full sentencing is scheduled for June 16.
Reuters reported that the ruling can still be appealed and that the court’s full reasoning has not been released. Franco’s lawyer said the legal team would wait for the detailed decision before deciding next steps.
Major League Baseball said it was aware of the verdict and would conclude its investigation “at the appropriate time,” AP reported. MLB’s official Player Resource Center lists a Joint MLB/MLBPA Major League Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy among conduct rules for major league players.
Background and Baseball Context
Franco, once one of MLB’s most valuable young players, signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in November 2021.
His major league career has been on hold since the allegations surfaced in August 2023, and the Rays later moved him to the restricted list after Dominican prosecutors filed charges.
ABC News reported in July 2024 that Dominican prosecutors charged Franco with sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking after a months-long investigation.
At that point, MLB granted Tampa Bay’s request to place him on the restricted list, where he would not be paid or receive major league service time.
In June 2025, Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a suspended two-year prison sentence.
MLB reported at the time that Franco remained under MLB investigation and that Dominican prosecutors had sought a five-year prison sentence for him and a 10-year sentence for the minor’s mother.
That earlier ruling was later overturned, leading to the retrial that produced Monday’s decision. Reuters reported that Franco had been convicted in June 2025, but that ruling was overturned and a retrial was ordered.
What Happens Next
The immediate next step is the release of the full sentencing document on June 16, which should clarify the court’s legal reasoning and any conditions attached to Franco’s exemption from punishment.
Until then, several issues remain unresolved: whether prosecutors or defense attorneys appeal, whether MLB disciplines Franco under its policy, and whether the Rays maintain any future relationship with him.
For now, the verified legal outcome is narrow but significant: Franco was found criminally responsible in the Dominican case, the court spared him prison through a judicial pardon, and MLB has not announced a final disciplinary decision.
