Dominican prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of five years for suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco in his sexual abuse trial.
Prosecutors said Monday that there is sufficient evidence proving that Franco had a four-month relationship with a minor and was sending money to the girl’s mother to consent to the relationship, according to the Associated Press.
“We are requesting a five-year prison sentence for the proven crime of sexual abuse against a minor,” prosecutor José Martínez said.
Franco is facing charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.
He is alleged to have “kidnapped the victim for sexual purposes for several days” and had given the mother of the then-14-year-old victim “large sums of money” to “prevent her from reporting him.”
Sums of $68,500 and $35,000 were reportedly found during a raid of the mother’s home and the money is alleged to have been from Franco.
The prosecution requested the five-year sentence they seek to be served in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The prosecutors are also pushing for a 10-year sentence for the girl’s mother as they argue she sexually trafficked her daughter.
The girl’s mother is currently facing money laundering charges and is under house arrest for her role.
Franco’s lawyers sought dismissal of the case and to clear the 2023 MLB All-Star of the charges.
The 24-year-old hasn’t played a game for the Rays since Aug. 12, 2023, after social media posts went viral accusing him of the inappropriate relationship.
He’s been on MLB’s restricted list ever since.
“I’ve heard everything they’re saying [during the reading of the indictment], but the only thing I’m going to say is [I hope] justice is done,” Franco said earlier this month. “Let justice be done.”
Franco was in his third MLB season when the accusations hit.
He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in 2021.