Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing a minor, was arrested on Monday in the Dominican Republic following a serious altercation involving firearms. According to ESPN, the incident took place on Sunday in the parking lot of an apartment complex located in San Juan de la Maguana.
Franco, 23, was reportedly involved in a heated dispute during which guns were drawn. Local authorities have since detained both Franco and an unnamed woman, who was with him during the altercation, for further questioning. As of Monday afternoon, both individuals remain in police custody as investigators look into the details of the incident.
An investigation into Wander Franco began in 2023 following a formal complaint in July, which alleged an inappropriate relationship with a minor. The inquiry continued through the following year, and in July 2024, Franco was formally charged with serious offenses related to his conduct with a minor. In light of these charges, Major League Baseball (MLB) placed him on the restricted list, meaning he was temporarily removed from all team activities as the legal process proceeded.
Franco is scheduled to stand trial for the previous case in December, and authorities believe that Sunday’s incident is unrelated to those charges.
According to Dominican police, Franco was not permitted to leave the country while awaiting his trial, but he was legally allowed to carry a firearm. Under Dominican law, his possession of the gun is only legal if he holds a valid license and the firearm is properly registered.
Franco is signed to the Tampa Bay Rays for a contract that runs through at least 2032, which would cover his 31-year-old season.
In 2021, after just 70 games in the major leagues, Franco was awarded an 11-year, $182 million contract extension by the Tampa Bay Rays. The same year, he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting and earned his first All-Star selection in 2023.
However, Franco was unable to play in 2024 due to the ongoing legal issues he is facing.
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