Rays’ Wander Franco’s sex abuse trial postponed after nearly every witness fails to show

The sex abuse trial of Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was supposed to commence Thursday. But it was delayed until June after 28 of 31 witnesses expected to testify were absent.

Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. His trial is scheduled to resume June 2, 2025.

Dominican Judge Yacaira Veras postponed the trial at the request of prosecutors due to the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three of 31 witnesses arrived for the trial  Thursday.

Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February.

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“There is no case against Wander. For as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco’s lead lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, told The Associated Press.

The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.

The 23-year-old shortstop said his career is not over yet, that he wants justice to be done and that “everything is in God’s hands.”

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Franco appeared upset when reporters asked if his MLB career was over.

“I did not had a career,” he said, implying that he still has one. “This is not over.”

Franco was arrested on a separate charge in the country for his involvement in an alleged armed altercation in November. 

Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco is facing an investigation into alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)

The Rays took down images of Franco around Tropicana Field after the allegations became public last year. There has also been no sign of Franco merchandise being sold at the Rays’ team store within their ballpark.

He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. He was an All-Star for the first time in 2023, hitting .281 with 17 homers and 58 RBI over 112 games.

Tampa Bay placed him on the team’s restricted list July 10, cutting off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.

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After Dominican police raided two homes associated with Franco just before the new year, he was eventually arrested. He was later released on the condition that he meet with local authorities once a month. 

According to ESPN, Dominican prosecutors say Franco called the minor “my girl” in a WhatsApp message, admitting the relationship was a “risk,” but he “loved it.”

“My girl,” Franco allegedly wrote in Spanish. “If my team realizes this, it could cause problems for me. It is a rule for all teams that we cannot talk to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it.”

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco celebrates after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit Aug. 6, 2023. (Rick Osentoski/USA Today Sports)

Prosecutors say Franco’s relationship with the girl, now 15, lasted four months, and he paid her not to speak about it. The girl’s mother also faces charges of money laundering based on gifts sent to her by Franco. Franco and the girl met Dec. 9, 2022, after he “took her from her home,” had sex twice in a two-day span and began their relationship.

Prosecutors say 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 the 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.

Franco gave the girl the equivalent of $46,000 in July and August, the documents say, and paid the mother about $1,700 per month, along with a new car.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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