PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) 鈥 Dominican prosecutors requested on Monday that suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco, who faces charges of sexual abuse involving a girl who was 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes, be sentenced to five years in prison.
The prosecutors said in court there is sufficient evidence to prove Franco had a relationship with the minor for four months and that he transferred large sums of money to the minor鈥檚 mother to consent to the illegal relationship.
During raids on the house of the minor鈥檚 mother, prosecutors say they found $68,500 and $35,000 that they allege was delivered by Franco.
鈥淲e are requesting a five-year prison sentence for the proven crime of sexual abuse against a minor,鈥 said prosecutor Jos茅 Mart铆nez.
The prosecutors also requested that Wander be sentenced to prison in Puerto Plata and that the minor鈥檚 mother be sentenced to 10 years in prison, arguing she sexually trafficked her daughter.
In a previous hearing, prosecutors presented as 鈥渃onvincing鈥 and 鈥渃ompelling.鈥
鈥淲hat is Wander? Is he an accomplice of Vanessa or is he the material author of the criminal conspiracy offense?鈥 said Irina Ventura, one of Franco鈥檚 lawyers arguing ambiguities on the part of the prosecutors.
Franco鈥檚 lawyers also asked the court to clear Franco of the charges and to dismiss the case.
Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge last year and were viewed by The Associated Press alleged that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred 1 million pesos ($17,000) to the mother of the minor on Jan. 5, 2023, to consent to purported abuse.
Franco was in his third major league season when his career was halted in August 2023. He agreed to an in November 2021. He is currently on Major League Baseball鈥檚 restricted list after initially being placed on administrative leave.
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