Rays' Franco guilty of sexual abuse, gets suspended sentence - ESPN

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a suspended two-year prison sentence Thursday after he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21.

Though prosecutors sought a five-year sentence, Judge Jakayra Veras said Franco would not serve further prison time unless he ran afoul of certain conditions, including not contacting minors with sexual intentions.

The mother of the victim, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted of sexually trafficking her daughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison after prosecutors proved she sought financial gains from Franco and laundered money.

Franco, who is on Major League Baseball's restricted list for failure to report to the team, is likely to have difficulty receiving a work visa in the United States because of the conviction. Should he not secure the visa, he would remain on the restricted list. As long as Franco is on the restricted list, the Rays would not be required to pay the salaries from his 11-year, $182 million contract.

MLB's investigation into Franco remains open. He could be further disciplined under the league's domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

«Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,» the league said in a statement. «We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.»

Social media posts in August 2023 alleged that Franco had been in an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl. Though Franco denied the allegations, MLB and the MLB