Wander Franco found guilty in sexual abuse case but avoids prison time - Tampa Bay Times
Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty for a second time on charges of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor Monday, although he was spared sentencing as a Dominican Republic court granted him a judicial pardon.The ruling means Franco will not serve prison time because the three-judge panel said he was both defendant and victim in the case, according to Dominican lawyer and journalist Juan Arturo Recio.The mother of the minor was sentenced to 10 years for money laundering and “threats of exposure,” which mirrors the same sentence she received in the first trial.While the ruling will keep Franco out of prison, it could further reduce the chance he will ever play in the major leagues again. According to a translation of a court document, the pardon applies to the punishment as opposed to the conviction, which is a key factor in the process.“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” Major League Baseball said in a statement late Monday afternoon.Franco had originally been found guilty in June 2025 and sentenced to essentially two years’ probation, but after both sides appealed, a new trial was ordered.