Ex-MLB star Wander Franco granted judicial pardon despite being found guilty of sexual assault
Key takeaways
- Wander Franco is guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in 2023, a judge in the Dominican Republic made clear Monday.
- Yet in his next breath, the same judge ruled that the former Tampa Bay Rays star shortstop will not be sentenced to prison because he was a victim of blackmail and extortion by the girl’s mother.
- Celebrity justice in the D.R. can be perplexing, and Judge José Antonio Núñez admitted as much.
Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco leaves court Monday after his retrial on charges of sexually abusing a minor in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. (Ricardo Hernandez / Associated Press) By Steve Henson Staff Writer Follow May 26, 2026 8:50 AM PT 1 4 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Wander Franco is guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in 2023, a judge in the Dominican Republic made clear Monday.
Yet in his next breath, the same judge ruled that the former Tampa Bay Rays star shortstop will not be sentenced to prison because he was a victim of blackmail and extortion by the girl’s mother.