A Dominican judge on Friday ordered the conditional release of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco while he is investigated for allegations he had a brief relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother a small car and thousands of dollars in exchange for her consent, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The judge said Wander is allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but must return once a month to meet with authorities.
Wander, who was expected to be released early Saturday, did not speak to reporters after the hearing ended.
The 22-year-old All-Star is accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. A judge who is scheduled to issue a ruling in the case on Friday has several options: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended.
The girl’s 35-year-old mother faces the same charges as Franco. The AP is not naming the woman in order to preserve her daughter’s privacy.
Franco, who was detained Monday in the northern province of Puerto Plata, hasn’t been charged with any crimes. The judge has received a nearly 600-page document detailing the evidence that prosecutors gathered during a monthslong investigation.
The athlete’s lawyers have not commented other than saying that Franco was “doing fine.”
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/mlb/rays/wander-franco-update/67-bd328079-2933-4925-88d3-049820dc6542
►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube
►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/
►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay
source
Wander Franco
