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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, one of baseball's brightest young stars, was released from custody by a Dominican Republic court on Friday as details emerged of an investigation in which he is accused of having a sexual relationship with a man Having 14 year old girls and having them pay their mother thousands of dollars.
Prosecutors had sought to keep Franco, who was arrested on New Year's Day, in custody pending the ongoing sexual abuse investigation. Franco appeared in court on Friday for a closed-door hearing where prosecutors' allegations were presented to a judge.
Despite prosecutors' assertion that Franco posed a flight risk because he had repeatedly ignored court summonses and left the country after learning he was under investigation, the judge allowed him to remain free while the investigation was ongoing.
Franco, who signed a $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021, was required to post bail of 2 million Dominican pesos – about $34,000 – and appear in court on a regular basis.
In documents reviewed by The Washington Post, prosecutors alleged that the mother “handed her minor daughter over to Franco in exchange for money” and then continued to make him pay her for keeping quiet about the abuse. The mother of Franco's alleged victim was also arrested by the judge and placed under house arrest.
The Post typically does not name alleged victims of sexual abuse or name the girl's mother to protect the girl's identity.
Prosecutors submitted nearly 600 pages of evidence against Franco and the girl's mother, detailing allegations that Franco pursued a four-month relationship with the girl, including taking her away from home for two days in December 2022, and that He gave her mother millions of Dominican pesos – the equivalent of tens of thousands of US dollars.
In a transcript of previously confidential testimony filed in court, the alleged victim claimed her mother “sold” her to men and kept money Franco gave her that was intended for the girl. In a summary of another interview, the girl referred to Franco as her “ex-boyfriend” and said they had had “repeated” sexual relations. Two other members of the girl's family confirmed that she had a relationship with Franco and that he gave her mother money or property, according to interview transcripts.
Franco's prosecutor, Jay Reisinger, declined to comment.
The records provide the most comprehensive picture yet of a murky, months-long law enforcement investigation that derailed Franco's career midway through last season. The 22-year-old Franco was selected to the American League All-Star team for the first time last July. A month later, Major League Baseball placed Franco on paid administrative leave after social media posts indicated he was having a relationship with the underage girl. The Rays and an MLB spokesman each declined to comment Friday.
Prosecutors cited several alleged examples of money being transferred from Franco and his family to that of his alleged victim. Franco's mother is said to have sent remittances totaling 1 million pesos – just over $17,000 – to the girl's mother. Additionally, the alleged victim's mother purchased a 2023 Suzuki Swift for more than $26,000, about three times her annual salary.
When investigators searched the alleged victim's mother's home in September, they found 800,000 Dominican pesos (almost $14,000), as well as $68,500 in American cash and a bank certificate belonging to Franco worth about $36,000, according to prosecutors.
Franco's alleged abuse of the girl came to light after she posted about Franco online in July. Prosecutors said she was upset that her mother took the money from him and didn't share it with her. This month, the girl's mother filed a complaint alleging Franco had previously kidnapped her daughter. Prosecutors alleged the mother's complaint was a ploy “to feign concern, distress and anger.”
Franco then went on Instagram Live from the Rays' clubhouse and claimed it was all an extortion attempt – and hasn't played with the team since.
Chelsea Janes contributed to this report.