MLB star Wander Franco found guilty of s3xually abusing a minor

Major League Baseball player Wander Franco has been found guilty of s3xually abusing a min0r following a high-profile trial in the Dominican Republic. The verdict was delivered Thursday afternoon, marking a major development in the criminal case against the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop.

Franco, 24, had faced allegations of engaging in a s3xual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors also accused him of transferring money to the girl’s mother in exchange for approval of the relationship. While the court found Franco guilty, he was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence, meaning he will avoid incarceration if he adheres to certain legal conditions, reportedly including an explicit ban on future s3xual relations with min0rs.

The girl’s mother was also tried and convicted, found guilty of sex trafficking her daughter. She received a 10-year prison sentence. Earlier in the week, prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term for Franco and 10 years for the mother.

Once considered one of the most promising young talents in baseball, Franco’s career has been sidelined since the allegations surfaced. He broke into the major leagues at just 20 years old and quickly rose to stardom, making an All-Star appearance and posting a .282 batting average in under three seasons.

Franco remains on Major League Baseball’s restricted list while the league continues its own investigation. In a statement following the ruling, MLB said, “Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, S3xual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues. We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.”